INDIANAPOLIS — In a dramatic finish, the Indiana Pacers overcame the Boston Celtics 133-131 on Monday night, with Bennedict Mathurin playing the hero by scoring the deciding free throws with just 0.6 seconds left on the clock. This victory came despite a concerning injury to All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton suffered a strained left hamstring in a distressing incident in the second quarter, leading to him being carried off the court. His injury is a significant blow to the Pacers, with an MRI scheduled for Tuesday to assess the extent of the damage.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle praised his team’s resilience and character in the face of adversity. Mathurin’s performance was a bright spot, as he finished the game with 26 points, going 8 of 15 from the field and hitting five 3-pointers. His calmness under pressure at the free-throw line ultimately secured the win for Indiana, splitting their two-game home series against the Eastern Conference leaders.
The Celtics, playing without their leading scorer Jayson Tatum due to a left ankle sprain, saw Jaylen Brown step up with a season-high 40 points. However, Brown’s efforts were not enough to prevent the Celtics’ loss. Tatum’s absence was keenly felt, given his average of 27.5 points per game.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged Brown’s contributions but emphasized the need for better defense across the team. Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday also contributed with 19 and 21 points, respectively, for Boston.
The Pacers demonstrated their depth with seven players scoring in double figures. Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner, and Buddy Hield played key roles, contributing 17, 16, and 15 points, respectively.
A controversial moment came near the end of the game when an initial foul call on Hield was overturned after review, leading to the Pacers regaining possession and setting the stage for Mathurin’s free throws.
Looking ahead, the Celtics will host Minnesota, while the Pacers will face Washington on Wednesday, as both teams continue their regular-season campaigns.
