The Indiana Pacers just picked up what may be their best win of the season. After losing to the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, they bounced back in a big way.
Tyrese Haliburton went down with an injury in the second quarter, one that looked bad at the moment, but the Pacers were able to climb all the way back and take down the best team in the league.
Jayson Tatum was absent with an injury, but Jaylen Brown poured in a season-high 40 points. Some antics at the end of the game shouldn’t take away from the Pacers’ big-time victory.
Let’s take a look at two studs and one dud from the Pacers’ 133-131 win over the Celtics on Monday night.
Stud - Three-point shooters (Mathurin, Hield, Nesmith)
There were too many players to pick just one for this spot on the list. Benedict Mathurin, Buddy Hield, and Aaron Nesmith all came in clutch in the second half for the Pacers, and they did most of their damage from behind the three-point line.
Boston was up by nine points going into halftime, but as the third quarter began, Nesmith drilled some huge threes to help keep Indiana in the game.
Hield’s shot-making came in clutch later in the quarter, helping tie things up and bring the Pacers ahead after the Celtics controlled the game for much, if not all, of the first half.
And as for Mathurin, he was the shot-maker of the evening, nailing contested threes and the two free throws that eventually sealed the win for the Pacers after a foul by Kristaps Porzingis.