SI

Celtics Use Second-Half Comeback to Take 3–0 Series Lead Over Pacers

Indiana had a chance to go ahead in the final moments but turned the ball over after coach Rick Carlisle opted not to take a timeout.

Josh Wilson

May 25, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle reacts during the third quarter of game three of the eastern conference finals against the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle reacts during the third quarter of game three of the eastern conference finals against the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics won Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals to take a 3-0 lead over the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers brought a 69-57 lead into halftime and a 90-81 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Celtics closed the deficit and won their first road game of the series by three points, 114-111.

Late in the fourth, shots fell for Boston that didn't for Indiana. But with time running down, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle let guard Andrew Nembhard corral a rebound and press on a fast break with seven seconds left. At this point, Indiana was down just one.

Nembhard wound up turning the ball over to Celtics guard Jrue Holiday, who was fouled by Pacers forward Pascal Siakam and went to the free-throw line to sink both free throws. Carlisle was beside himself, clearly thinking Nembhard was fouled. But fans were drawn more to the decision by Carlisle to let the fast break run rather than taking his last timeout and drawing up a set play.

Carlisle did take the timeout after Holiday's free throws and drew up a decent look for a 3-point attempt as time expired that wouldn't fall.

Even more frustrating for Pacers fans is that Carlisle admitted fault for not calling a timeout just days ago when the Pacers saw Game 1 slip through their fingers.

Fans were quick to identify Carlisle's decision-making as a culprit:

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Josh Wilson
JOSH WILSON

Josh Wilson is the news director of the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in 2024, he worked for FanSided in a variety of roles, most recently as senior managing editor of the brand’s flagship site. He has also served as a general manager of Sportscasting, the sports arm of a start-up sports media company, where he oversaw the site’s editorial and business strategy. Wilson has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from SUNY Cortland and a master’s in accountancy from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois. He loves a good nonfiction book and enjoys learning and practicing Polish. Wilson lives in Chicago but was raised in upstate New York. He spent most of his life in the Northeast and briefly lived in Poland, where he ate an unhealthy amount of pastries for six months.

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