Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin combined for 59 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 135-132 overtime victory over the previously undefeated Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
Siakam delivered a clutch performance, scoring the last of his 29 points on a three-pointer with 6.1 seconds remaining, sealing Indiana’s fourth-quarter comeback and halting a three-game losing streak.
The Pacers held a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Boston surged back to force overtime, briefly taking a 132-130 advantage after a layup by Derrick White with 39.7 seconds left.
In response, Siakam hit a crucial jumper to tie the score before his late-game three-pointer ensured Indiana’s first victory against Boston since last season’s Eastern Conference Finals.
Mathurin scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half, stepping up in key moments to keep the Pacers competitive as they worked to prevent the Celtics’ comeback.
Tyrese Haliburton added 17 points and led Indiana with 12 assists, setting up Siakam and Mathurin for a combined six three-pointers and contributing to Indiana’s season-high 15 threes.
Jayson Tatum topped Boston’s scoring with 37 points, while Jaylen Brown chipped in 25 and had a final opportunity to tie the game with a last-second three-pointer that fell short.
Indiana dominated on the boards, securing a season-high 57 rebounds, allowing them to control pace and counter Boston’s second-chance points despite the Celtics’ late rally.
Boston struggled with turnovers, which limited their chances in overtime and ultimately left them without a field goal in the final 20 seconds as the Pacers tightened their defense.
Derrick White, contributing 23 points, gave the Celtics a brief lead, but Siakam and Mathurin quickly responded, combining for Indiana’s final five points in a poised closing stretch.
Indiana’s defense stepped up late, including a key stop on Jaylen Brown, whose potential game-tying three-pointer drifted out of bounds, marking Boston’s first defeat of the season.
Indiana’s bench, led by Mathurin and Obi Toppin, combined for 55 points, offering critical support and offsetting Boston’s depth, including Payton Pritchard’s 16 points off the bench.
