The Indiana Pacers survived the late rally over the Boston Celtics 98-96, earning their first three-game win streak of the season on Monday evening.
Pacers’ forward Pascal Siakam dropped 21 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, including the decisive 7-foot bank shot with 6.1 seconds remaining.
Siakam pump-faked and stepped inside the foul line for the high-arcing leaner that banked through in the final seconds.
Celtics guard Derrick White missed a go-ahead 3-point attempt in the final seconds as he had tied the game at 96-all on a driving layup with 28.6 seconds remaining.
Indiana began the night with the NBA’s worst record but improved to 9-31, one-half game better than the New Orleans Pelicans.
They were without forward Bennedict Mathurin, who averaged 17.8 points per game, on the sidelines due to thumb injury for a fifth consecutive game.
Celtics’ Payton Pritchard had 23 points and eight assists, while White had 18 points, and Anfernee Simons had 16.
Meanwhile, Boston’s leading scorer Jaylen Brown was sat out due to lower back spasms and earlier Monday was fined $35,000 for criticizing referees.
This was the start of a four-game trip for the Celtics, who are third in the Eastern Conference at 24-15.
Boston will play at Miami on Thursday, while the Pacers host the Raptors on Wednesday.
