Derrick White’s tie-breaking 3-tip with 43 seconds left provided Boston the lead and the Celtics closed out a four-game sweep of the Indiana Pacers 105-102 on Monday night to reach the NBA Finals for the 2nd time in 3 years.
White endedup with 16 points. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 29 points while Jayson Tatum included 26 points, 13 rebounds and 8 helps to aid eliminate a nine-point second-half deficit. Brown was called Eastern Conference Finals MVP for his efforts.
Boston swept the Pacers after rallying from a 3-0 deficit in last year’s conference finals to force a seventh videogame.
Indiana, which onceagain played without two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, lost its 2nd straight at home — both in the last minute after offering up leads. Andrew Nembhard had 24 points, 10 helps and 6 rebounds however missedouton a possibly connecting 3-tip in the closing seconds and the Pacers neverever got the ball onceagain.
Pascal Siakam included 19 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana while T.J. McConnell had 15 points and Aaron Nesmith had 14.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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