Philippines, 12 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Boston Shows Heart of Champions; Rallies to Beat Indiana, 114-111


PhilBoxing.com




Indiana knew it had to win game 3 at home to not fall into a hole no team had crawled out from. So the Pacers demonstrated a sense of urgency that allowed them to race to double digit leads until the opening of the final quarter of the game.

But such sense of urgency never reckoned Boston's hearts of champion that allowed the Celtics to claw their way from behind to win, 114-111 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals over the Pacers.

Such indomitable spirit was characterized by Jrue Holiday who scored five points plus a steal in the last 40 seconds to seal the comeback win from a 111-109 deficit.

Utilizing its ceiling and length advantage to score mostly in the paint complemented by outside sniping, Indiana in many occasions had threatened to break the game open, posting its largest lead, 84-66 midway through the third period.

Instrumental in the surge were big men Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner and Obi Toppin who were helped out by the shooting of Andrew Nembhard, TJ McConnel and Aaron Nesmith.

The Pacers were even able to rotate in Doug McDermontt and Isiah Jackson to keep the pressure inside.

However, Boston kept on plugging in to keep the lead within reach for the remainder of the third quarter and early stages of the final 12 minutes.

Helping in keeping the Pacers’ leads manageable was the Celtics defense that produced a team high 12 blocks with Al Horford and Jason Tatum frustrating their big men in and around the paint while Holiday, Jaylen Brown and Derreck White bothering the three points shooters.

Boston likewise had 7 steals and forced 11 possession changes that helped in cutting into the Pacers lead.

The Celtics also fielded Xavier Tillman and Oshae Brissett, both 6-7 to support Horford and somehow neutralize Indiana's height advantage.

Boston managed to cut the 101-92 Pacers lead with still 4 minutes left through Horford, Holiday and Brown to 109-103.

Tatum hit a triple to make it 109-106. After Nembhard free throws made it 111-106, Horford banged a triple to make it 111-109.

Holiday scored on a layup with foul to boot from Siakam. Holiday hit the extra shot to give Boston the lead 112-111.

Holiday later pushed the Celtics farther, 114-111 with another trip to the free throw line with only 2 ticks left on desperation foul by Siakam. This after stealing the ball from Nembhard off a Tatum miss rebound.

Nesmith missed a last ditch triple at the buzzer.

Siakam and Nembhard who were looking like heroes earlier proved to be the game's goats for Indiana while Holiday who could not seem to get going at the start and had to be replaced many times, emerged as the hero for Boston. He typified Boston's heart of champions.

Tatum topped for Boston with 36 points and 10 rebounds. Brown scored 24 points, Horford made his presence felt with 23 points and 5 rebounds. Holiday
shoot 14 points, the last 5 in the last 40 seconds and White added 13 points.

On Indiana's side the loss wasted Nembhard's 32 points and McConnell's 23 points efforts. Likewise the 22 points each of Siakam and Turner.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.