5 key points from the Pacers-Celtics matchup as Pascal Siakam’s stunning three-pointer secures a victory for Indiana

Pacers-Celtics: Five things to remember as Pascal Siakam’s spectacular three-pointer secures a victory for IndianaPlease excuse Pascal Siakam if he was

personally affected by the Indiana Pacers’ lethargic start and their opportunity to rectify the situation against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. All of their thoughts were consumed by the Pacers’ early-season difficulties and the ease with which Boston eliminated them from the Eastern Conference Finals last spring. However, Siakam had a greater stake in this contest. He had a record of 0-13 against the Celtics since the beginning of the 2022-23 season. He confronted them nine times last season and, incredibly, lost each game (four with Toronto and five after his trade to Indiana). The reason Siakam was so determined before the game and so satisfied after the Pacers survived 135-132 in overtime is explained by this. Siakam stated, “It is substantial,” prior to departing the stage. “We must be the team that perseveres until the very end.” Siakam contributed 29 points, 11 rebounds, a 6-for-8 shooting record on 3-pointers, and the Pacers’ final two baskets, thereby putting the “me” in “we.” Indiana’s hemorrhaging was halted with 36 seconds remaining, and the score was tied for the ninth time at 132-132, following a timeout in overtime. The second was his game-winning shot, a three-pointer from the top of the arc that left the Celtics with only 6.1 seconds remaining.

1. Indiana has made two strides forward and one back. If the Pacers approach this situation with the appropriate perspective, they can consider it a double victory in their quest to establish a solid foundation this season. The initial positive was the high-octane performance of their offense during the majority of the first three quarters. They were leading the defending NBA champions, who were 4-0 at the time, by 96-72 during that stretch. The ball and the players were in motion, Indiana was effectively containing Boston’s potent 3-point game, and All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton became more assertive as his team’s lead increased. Coach Rick Carlisle and his team could be proud of their ability to withstand the champions’ late surge and demonstrate just enough resourcefulness to improve to 2-3 in overtime, while also handing Boston its first loss. What is the fourth quarter? We will record that information on Boston’s side of the ledger. 2. The Celtics’ defense nearly achieved the desired outcome. Certainly, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 24 points in the fourth quarter. However, the fact that Boston deprived Indiana of scoring down the stretch nearly altered the outcome. Under the guidance of Derrick White and the persistent Payton Pritchard, the Celtics restricted Indiana to 24 points and a 7-for-22 shooting record. It was even more significant that the duress resulted in six turnovers for the Pacers. Boston also received some quality time from deep reserve Neemias Queta, who was a team-best plus-18 and had nine rebounds in less than 14 minutes. The Pacers’ rim shrank, the ball became more slippery, and the Celtics finally caught up to Tatum’s stepback three from the perimeter with 14.4 seconds remaining in regulation. It necessitated the host team to rally without any momentum. 3. Mathurin is a significant contributor off the bench. And for certain Pacers fans who are dissatisfied with Bennedict Mathurin’s playing time, this is a significantly more favorable alternative than leaving him on the bench. Two years ago, the 6-foot-6 wing from Montreal, who had previously played in Arizona and Mexico, garnered some recognition as a rookie for the Sixth Man of the Year award. He was making progress last season until a shoulder injury sidelined him in March. Thus far this season? Mathurin’s playing time decreased from nearly 28 minutes in the opener to less than 14 minutes on Monday at Orlando. Although Aaron Nesmith’s skill set overlaps with Mathurin’s, the third-year player appeared to be declining in the Pacers’ pecking order, despite Indiana’s extensive roster. It is possible that one was even blamed. Until Wednesday. To commence his third Sixth Man campaign, he played for over 42 minutes, contributed 11 rebounds, and scored 30 points. He made 10 of his 11 attempts at the line, but his greatest contribution was to invigorate a team that had been previously hesitant. Mathurin has assumed the role of That Guy, as Haliburton has not yet established himself as such. 4. Boston maintains its three-point lead. Initially, they struggled, failing to convert seven of their ten attempts in the first quarter. However, Boston continued to make 19 shots from beyond the arc on 57 attempts by the conclusion. The Celtics are on the brink of breaking the NBA franchise record for a single season, having scored 105 points in their first five games. So far, they have made more 3-pointers than their opponents in each encounter. They were on track to earn 1,763 through the first four games, which is 400 more than the record set by Golden State two seasons ago. The Celtics are currently striking at a rate that would result in 1,722 hits by the conclusion of the season. That would surpass the Warriors’ record by over 26%. 5. The Celtics are fortunate, while the Pacers are not. Despite the hurried manner in which the Pacers stowed this one away, it is commendable. Their early schedule is challenging, consisting of road games in New Orleans and Dallas, followed by home games against the Magic and the Knicks, sandwiched around a journey to Charlotte. After that, the team will play three consecutive games against Miami, followed by a three-game trek. In total, Indiana will play 10 of its first 16 contests on the road. In contrast, Boston may not experience another loss for two weeks. This weekend, the Celtics will play two consecutive games in Charlotte, followed by one in Atlanta. Subsequently, Golden State and Brooklyn will be played at home. Some may regard this as the Jayson Tatum Olympics revenge game, with Steve Kerr serving as the opposing coach. Even a game that is considered to be a difficult one in Milwaukee on November 10 is contingent upon the Bucks’ own situation. * * * Since 1980, Steve Aschburner has been publishing articles regarding the NBA. You can contact him via email at this link, access his archive at this link, and follow him on X. The opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily represent those of the NBA, its clubs, or Warner Bros. Discovery.