Keys to the Game: Celtics 118, Pacers 101 – NBA.com

Things weren’t looking good for the Celtics during Saturday night’s third quarter in Indiana. Jayson Tatum was sidelined with four fouls. Derrick White was sidelined with four fouls. Kristaps Porzingis was sidelined with an eye injury. And the team could not put the ball through the net from the free-throw line.
Those circumstances led to what was once a 16-point advantage for Boston dropping all the way down to two early on in the third period. It also led to Indiana building a wave of momentum that seemingly was about to grab control of the game.
That’s when Jaylen Brown entered the equation.
Brown carried the Celtics during this contest when they needed him most. It’s because of him that the team never relinquished its lead during the third quarter, and instead carried a three-point advantage into the final frame.
Brown scored nine points during the third, including seven during the final 2:35, to buoy the Celtics. Those final seven points were scored in a variety of ways, as he made a free throw, a jumper, a pullup jumper, and then a floater to close out the period.
Thanks to Brown’s efforts as he played the entire quarter, Boston carried an 84-81 lead into the final frame. The advantage, however, felt much larger.
Brown and the Celtics had staved off Indiana’s best run to maintain a lead. And once Tatum could return to action during the fourth? This game was over.
Tatum scored 15 points during the final quarter, and Brown added in five, as the Celtics pulled away for a convincing 118-101 win.
Jayson Tatum was unstoppable Saturday night. Not even foul trouble, which limited him to just five-plus minutes of action during the third quarter, could slow him down.
Tatum still piled up a game-high 38 points thanks to a red-hot shooting night from long distance. He connected on eight of his 13 shots from beyond the arc to set a new season high for made 3-pointers this season. Those eight makes fell just one shy of tying his career high.
The massive numbers didn’t end there. Tatum also hauled in a game-high 13 rebounds, including 12 at the defensive end of the floor. Those 13 boards were five more than any other player in the game grabbed.
Tatum also dished out six assists during his 37-plus minutes of playing time.
“We just can’t keep taking him for granted. Best teammate I ever had. Ultimate professional, and somebody we can count on night-in and night-out, and he proved that again tonight.”
– Jayson Tatum on Al Horford
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