The Boston Celtics took a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals after beating the Indiana Pacers with a score of 133-128 in overtime, and Jaylen Brown was a big reason why.
With Indiana up by 117-114, Jaylen Brown forced a crucial turnover with 10 seconds remaining. And on the ensuing possession, the three-time NBA All-Star hit a tough three-pointer over Pascal Siakam from the corner to send the game to overtime.
In OT, the Boston Celtics outscored the Indiana Pacers 16-11, as Jayson Tatum made some huge baskets down the stretch.
During the postgame press conference, Jaylen Brown sounded off on the fans who left the TD Garden early, and at the same time, he also said that their job is far from finished a la Kobe Bryant.
Credit: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
“Welcome to the NBA Playoffs. You’ve just got to manage your emotions. Anything can happen. The game is not over until the final buzzer sounds. We found a way to win the game at the very end,” Brown said.”
“Would you be (happy after Game 1)? We almost dropped a game on our home floor. We need to come out and be better in Game 2,” he added via Keith Smith on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Jayson Tatum shares the same sentiment with Jaylen Brown after Boston Celtics’ Game 1 win
The Boston Celtics know that they barely escaped Game 1, and Jayson Tatum was one of the first few people who admitted such during the postgame press conference.
“I’m so glad we won that game because I would have been sick,” Tatum said via Jay King from The Athletic. “It doesn’t prove anything. We won a big-time game. The series is far from over. But one step at a time. This is a big-time win tonight, and come back and get ready for Thursday.”
Jayson Tatum finished with a game-high 36 points on 12-of-26 shooting and went 10-of-12 from the free throw line, but he also had 12 rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Jaylen Brown, meanwhile, had 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals, on 10-of-20 shooting.
