INDIANAPOLIS — Jrue Holiday overcame an illness to score a game-winning 3-point play with 38 seconds to go and then add a game-saving steal to lead the Boston Celtics from an 18-point deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 114-111 on Saturday night and take a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
Boston will clinch its second NBA Finals appearance in three seasons with a win in Game 4 on Monday in Indianapolis.
Jayson Tatum tied his playoff career high with 36 points and had 10 rebounds and eight assists. Jaylen Brown scored 24 points and Al Horford added 23 points and seven 3-pointers, and the Celtics won their sixth straight playoff game and remain unbeaten on the road in the postseason this season.
Holiday played despite being listed as questionable because of an illness unrelated to COVID-19.
Andrew Nembard led the Pacers with a career-high 30 points, but Holiday stole the ball from him with 3.3 seconds left in the game.
TJ McConnell had 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam each scored 22 points.
Indiana was without All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton with a left hamstring injury, and his absence was evident as Boston finished with a 13-2 run.
It was the Pacers’ first loss in seven home games in the postseason.
