In a nail-biting contest, the Indiana Pacers (21-15) clinched a 133-131 victory against the Boston Celtics (28-8) as Bennedict Mathurin’s 26 points, including crucial free throws in the final moments, sealed the win.
The Pacers rallied after Tyrese Haliburton (7 points, 6 assists in 13 minutes of play) suffered a hamstring injury, showcasing resilience against the Celtics.
Haliburton’s unfortunate hamstring injury in the second quarter led to a tense moment for the Pacers, but they regrouped, and Mathurin emerged as the hero, sinking deciding free throws with just 0.6 seconds left.
Mathurin’s stellar performance, including five 3-pointers, played a pivotal role as the Pacers split a two-game home series against the Eastern Conference leaders.
Despite a season-high 40 points from Jaylen Brown, the Celtics faced challenges without leading scorer Jayson Tatum, sidelined due to a left ankle sprain.
Tatum’s absence provided an opportunity for the Pacers, with seven double-figure scorers contributing, including Aaron Nesmith (17 points), Myles Turner (16 points), and Buddy Hield (15 points).
Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis provided valuable support for the Celtics with 21 and 19 points, respectively.
