The Boston Celtics are headed back to the National Basketball Association Finals in search of their 18th world championship.
The Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers 105-102 to complete a four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night in Indianapolis. The Celtics defense held the Pacers scoreless for the last three and a half minutes of the game to take the victory.
Boston’s dynamic duo of St. Louisan Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were tremendous as they combined for 55 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists.Â
Brown scored a game-high 29 points as he received the Larry Bird Award for Most Outstanding player in the Eastern Conference finals. In the final moments, he scored on a runner to tie the game at 102-102, blocked a TJ McConnell driving layup, then assisted on Derrick White’s go-ahead 3-pointer, which turned out to be the winning shot.
Tatum completed a stellar four-game series by scoring 26 points, along with 13 rebounds and eight assists. Tatum finished the series averaging 30.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 46 percent from the field and 78 percent from 3-point range.
Tatum also became the fifth player in NBA history to lead his team in points, rebounds and assists while reaching the NBA Finals.He joins a select list of greats that include LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd and Nikola Jokic.
Boston now awaits the winner of the Western Conference finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Mavericks lead the best of seven series 3-0 with Game 4 set for Tuesday night in Dallas.
The NBA Finals will begin on Thursday, June 6 in Boston for Game 1 at T.D. Gardens Arena.
