BOSTON — Jaylen Brown was a large enough downside for the Indiana Pacers even earlier than an All-NBA snub that will have given him an added need to indicate how a lot he can do for the Boston Celtics.
“I feel he cares about it in a approach that motivates him, and I feel he doesn’t actually care about it in any respect,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned after watching Brown match his playoff profession excessive of 40 factors in Boston’s 126-110 victory over Indiana in Recreation 2 of the Japanese Convention finals Thursday evening.
“He understands that profitable is crucial factor,” Mazzulla mentioned. “He simply cares about the best stuff.”
One sport after his game-saving 3-pointer and in the future after he was overlooked of the voting for the league’s prime 15 gamers, Brown scored 10 factors throughout a 20-0 Boston run that turned a first-quarter deficit right into a second-quarter lead that the Celtics by no means relinquished. Issues received worse for Indiana within the third, when star Tyrese Haliburton reinjured the left hamstring that saved him out of 10 video games in January.
“The start of the second quarter actually modified the sport quite a bit,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle mentioned mentioned. “The third was robust, and shedding Ty for the sport clearly was a giant blow.”
Jayson Tatum and Derrick White scored 23 factors apiece and Jrue Vacation had 15 factors and 10 assists for the top-seeded Celtics, who misplaced Recreation 2 in each of their earlier sequence this postseason.
Pascal Siakam scored 28 factors for Indiana, which heads house for Video games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday nights in an area the place they’ve gained 11 straight video games — together with six within the playoffs — since March 18. Haliburton, who had 25 factors and 10 assists within the sequence opener, had 10 factors and eight assists Thursday earlier than leaving the sport within the third.
“We’d like Ty, however ‘subsequent man’ mentality,” Siakam mentioned. “We’ve received to play collectively. This workforce received the place we’re at by taking part in collectively. … It’s on us to proceed.”
One sport after the Celtics jumped to a 12-0 lead and Indiana spent the remainder of the primary half clawing its approach again, the lead modified fingers 10 instances within the opening quarter, with the Pacers holding a 27-22 edge with 1:14 left.
Then Boston scored the subsequent 20 factors.
Indiana missed 9 straight photographs and dedicated 4 turnovers in the course of the drought that lasted greater than six minutes. Brown scored 10 on his personal in the course of the run and had 24 on the half; he opened the third quarter with two fast baskets to present the Celtics a 61-52 lead.
However Siakam additionally got here out sizzling within the second half, hitting 4 baskets within the first 4 minutes – a pair of 2s and a pair of 3s – to make it a two-point sport. Boston pulled away once more – this time for good, scoring 16 of the subsequent 21 factors.
Indiana by no means received inside single digits once more.
Brown scored 26 factors Tuesday evening, when the Celtics gained because of some unforced errors by the Pacers — particularly Haliburton — down the stretch. On Wednesday, Brown was left off the All-NBA groups; final yr’s choice to the second workforce certified him for a five-year supermax extension that made him the highest-paid participant within the NBA.
“I imply, he has it going,” Vacation mentioned. “Y’all see what I see. Nice participant. Nice chief. However needs to win. And takes thinks into his personal fingers. So I’m glad to have him on my aspect. I journey with him. The best way JB’s been taking part in, man, it’s excellent.”