The Boston Celtics completed a 4-0 sweep over the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, securing their second trip to the NBA Finals in three years.
Derrick White made a crucial tie-breaking 3-pointer with 43 seconds left, leading the Celtics to a 105-102 victory on Monday night. White scored 16 points and made 1 of 8 3-pointers before hitting the decisive shot from the corner.
Jaylen Brown, who led Boston in scoring with 29 points and six rebounds, won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy. Jayson Tatum contributed 26 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.
Boston now awaits the winner of the Western Conference Finals between Dallas and Minnesota, with the Mavericks holding a 3-0 lead.
Tempers flared briefly in the third quarter when Myles Turner knocked White to the ground, leading to technical fouls on Turner and Brown.
Another intense moment occurred when Brown accidentally hit T.J. McConnell in the face, sending him to the ground.
Despite these incidents, the Pacers remained competitive throughout the series.
Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 24 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds but missed a potentially tying 3-pointer in the closing seconds.
Pascal Siakam added 19 points and 10 rebounds, while McConnell and Aaron Nesmith contributed 15 and 14 points, respectively.
