Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 40 factors to steer the Boston Celtics to a 126-110 victory over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Thursday in Sport 2 of the Japanese Convention finals.
Brown was 14 of 27 from the ground and made 8 of 11 free throws. He added 5 rebounds. Boston had a 13-point lead after three quarters and the Pacers had been by no means nearer than 11 factors within the fourth.
The victory gave Boston a 2-0 lead within the best-of-seven sequence, which can shift to Indianapolis for Sport 3 on Saturday. The Celtics received Sport 1 133-128 in additional time.
“I believe we adjusted just a little bit higher in Sport 2,” Brown mentioned. “I nonetheless suppose we will play just a little higher, so we’re wanting ahead to doing that in Sport 3.”
The Pacers are not sure whether or not level guard Tyrese Haliburton shall be accessible for that sport. He left with left hamstring soreness within the third quarter Thursday. He collected 10 factors and eight assists in 28 minutes. He missed 10 video games in January with a left hamstring pressure.
READ | NBA: Tatum scores 36 as Celtics edge Pacers 133-128 in Sport 1 of East finals
“Shedding Ty for the sport clearly is a giant blow,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle mentioned. “We’ll know extra (Friday) and much more Saturday. … I do know you need particulars. I don’t have a lot.”
Pascal Siakam made 13 of 17 field-goal makes an attempt and led the Pacers with 28 factors. Andrew Nembhard added 16 factors for Indiana.
Jayson Tatum and Derrick White every scored 23 factors for the Celtics. Al Horford had six factors and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Brown led all first-half scorers with 24 factors. Boston trailed 27-25 after one quarter however held a 57-51 halftime lead.
Boston surged in entrance due to a 20-0 run. The Celtics scored the ultimate three factors within the first quarter and the primary 17 factors within the second quarter to take a 42-27 lead. Indiana didn’t rating within the second quarter till Aaron Nesmith made two free throws with 6:45 remaining within the quarter.
Indiana was inside two factors, 68-66, after Siakam’s 3-pointer with 7:55 remaining within the third, however Boston had a 93-80 benefit getting into the ultimate 12 minutes.
The Pacers have a 6-0 house document within the playoffs this season. The Celtics are 4-0 on the highway.
Indiana additionally misplaced the primary two video games towards the New York Knicks within the convention semifinals after which received that sequence in seven video games.
“The one factor we must be enthusiastic about is that they had been down 2-0 a sequence in the past and so they introduced it to Sport 7 and so they do an ideal job defending their house courtroom,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned. “They’re undefeated at house, so it’s going to take much more than confidence to get the job carried out, and we’ve got to deal with the small print and the execution. … I do know they’re going to reply, so it’s as much as us to do the identical.”
The Celtics’ Luke Kornet left the sport within the first quarter with a sprained left wrist and didn’t return to the courtroom.
Boston heart Kristaps Porzingis missed his eighth straight sport with a calf pressure.