Tyrese Halliburton committed one of Indiana’s 22 turnovers in Game 1, a key factor in their overtime loss.
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They know where the Indiana Pacers need to improve on Thursday when they host the Boston Celtics for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Pacers committed 22 turnovers in Tuesday’s 133-128 overtime loss in Game 1, and those mistakes led to 32 Boston points. Sixth-seeded Indiana led 117-114 with 8.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Pascal Siakam couldn’t handle Andrew Nembhardt’s inbounds pass and then allowed Jaylen Brown to make a 3-pointer that forced overtime.
“We had a lot of revenue, it’s hard to explain, but it’s the conference finals in the NBA playoffs and these things happen,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. „A lot of turnovers we had, our guys kept playing, kept fighting and found a way to get a three-point cushion and the ball. So we have to finish it at that time.
Aaron Nesmith (five) and Myles Turner (four) had nine of the 22 gifts., but Tyrus Halliburton also turned the ball over three times — including twice in key moments. He dribbled the ball off his feet when Indiana led by three with 27.7 seconds left in regulation, then lost the ball out of bounds with 1:02 left in overtime.
„I think it’s too much for us,” Halliburton said. „They’re a great defensive team. They’ve got great, great defenders — individual and team defenders — but they’re not a team that forces a ton of turnovers. They’re a solid, determined team. I felt like we had more (turnovers) than they forced. We cleaned it up. Gotta do it, and (Game 1) and out of the last series of a game, we really took care of the ball, so we’ll fix that in Game 2.
Top-seeded Boston has won Game 1 in each of its three playoff series this year, but failed to win Game 2 against Miami in the opening round and Cleveland in the conference semifinals.
After Thursday’s game, the best-of-seven series shifts to Indianapolis for Games 3 and 4.
„Come with a mind to never rest” Boston star Jayson Tatum said. „Different circumstances. We won our Game 1 by a wide margin in the first two rounds, so maybe human nature played into that. But (Tuesday) being a close game, going into overtime, we definitely felt we should have won and could have played better.
All Celtics starters scored at least 15 points in Game 1. Tatum led the way with 36, but Boston got 28 points in 48 minutes from 33-year-old Jrue Holiday, who also had eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.
Halliburton (25 points) and Siakam (24) were Indiana’s leading scorers. Turner tossed in 23 points and took advantage of Kristaps Porzingis’ absence.
Porzingis, Boston’s starting center, has missed the past seven games with a calf strain. ESPN reports he could return for Game 4 of the conference finals.
„He’s working hard every day to get better as quickly as he can,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said of Porzingis. „He’s there for everything and it can’t be underestimated how hard he works and tries to come back on time.”