The Boston Celtics made a definitive case on their home court, winning Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night, the first time they were up 2-0 this postseason.
Led by Jaylen Brown, who tied his playoff career-high with 40 points, the Celtics' dominant offense proved too much for the Pacers, who allowed a 20-0 run in the first half, giving Boston the lead for good.
Despite the good hand of Pascal Siakam in the third quarter (he led his team with 28 points and five rebounds), the Pacers struggled without Tyrese Haliburton, who scored only 10 points and eight assists before leaving in the third quarter due to to pain in the left hamstring. .
The series will continue in Indiana for Game 3 on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC) and Game 4 on Monday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2).
After a dominant performance by the Celtics at TD Garden, our NBA experts analyze the most important moments of Game 2, what the Pacers must do to bounce back in Indiana and the imminent return of center Kristaps Porzingis, out due to a strain on the calf. since April 30, it means for this series and potentially the Finals.
1. What is your biggest takeaway from Game 2?
Jamal Collier: Letting Game 1 slip away hurts even more for Indiana now. The Pacers entered the series as the underdogs, but had a golden opportunity to win the opening game of the series. It would have given them a break as they return to Indy with Haliburton's status up in the air. Now Indiana has to play with a greater sense of urgency in Game 3 to save its season, and could be without its 100% All-NBA point guard.
Tim Bontemps: The Celtics have to take advantage and close this series quickly. Boston has put itself in tough situations in recent playoffs by dragging out series, but after playing consecutive five-game sets to open these playoffs, the East's top seed is within striking distance of securing another quick exit for its opponent. It looks like the Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves could be a long and difficult series, so if Boston can take a week off, they'll have the best possible chance to raise Banner 18.
Kevin Pelton: What intrigues me most is Boston turning to 6-foot-7 Oshae Brissett as an undersized center after Luke Kornet left the game due to a sprained left wrist. Hopefully for the Celtics this won't be an issue for long as Kristaps Porzingis is on track to return. For now, Brissett's ability to guard multiple positions gives coach Joe Mazzulla more options to change pick-and-rolls. Boston started him on Haliburton at times, giving the Celtics the ability to switch without putting a smaller defender on the blocker. Boston ended up outscoring Indiana by 18 points in Brissett's 12 minutes. The Celtics certainly can't count on that level of success in the future, but Brissett stepped up in a key spot against his former team.
2. The biggest key to Indiana returning to this series?
Pelton: Haliburton's health. If Haliburton isn't the force he was during Indiana's four wins over the New York Knicks in the East semifinals and Game 1 of this series, the Pacers have little hope of generating enough offense to keep up with the Celtics . Right now, everything else is secondary for Indiana.
Miner: Regardless of Haliburton's health, the Pacers hope returning home will give them the same momentum they had throughout the postseason (where they are 6-0) and some fresh legs. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged that he saw some tired legs late in Game 2 after playing three road games in five days, which is why Siakam and Aaron Nesmith didn't play much in the fourth quarter. Recovering and getting back to running the court will be key for the Pacers to get back into the series.
Good time: Pelton summed this up. If Haliburton isn't healthy and doesn't get close to the level he's played at over his last eight playoff games, this series might not make it to Game 5.
3. Fact or fiction: the Celtics should hold out on Porzingis until the finals
Miner: Fiction. If he is healthy and can get on the court before the end of this series, it is worth giving him some action before the Finals. That could not only help him prepare to return to play, but also help the rest of the Celtics and reintegrate him into the team's style of play.
Pelton: Fiction. While Boston certainly shouldn't rush Porzingis back based on the series so far, I think it would be beneficial to give him some action before the Finals if his recovery is scheduled for Game 4, as reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
By Game 1 of the Finals on June 6, Porzingis will have been out more than five weeks. According to my research, only three players since 1997 have returned to the Finals after longer absences: Jameer Nelson (out of all playoffs) in 2009, DeMarcus Cousins in 2019, and Andre Iguodala in 2022. None of those players averaged more 18 minutes per game in the series. The Celtics will want Porzingis ready for a much bigger role than that.
Good time: Fiction. The Celtics' goal has always been to get Porzingis back at some point in this series. If he returns and gets a handful of minutes (possibly in those potentially vacant due to Kornet's wrist injury), the 7-foot-3 big man will be able to get his legs back under him in a game scenario before a possible place in the final. Making it easier before this round is over, while still enjoying a comfortable lead in the series, would be the best outcome for the Celtics.
