Pacers eager to clean up mistakes against Celtics in Game 2

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The Indiana Pacers know the place enchancment is required on Thursday after they go to the Boston Celtics for Sport 2 of the Japanese Convention Finals.

The Pacers dedicated 22 turnovers of their 133-128 time beyond regulation loss in Sport 1 on Tuesday, and people miscues led to 32 Boston factors. The most expensive turnover got here with 8.5 seconds left within the fourth quarter whereas sixth-seeded Indiana was main 117-114. Pascal Siakam couldn’t deal with Andrew Nembhard’s inbounds move, and he then allowed Jaylen Brown to make a game-tying 3-pointer that compelled time beyond regulation.

“We had plenty of turnovers that might be onerous to clarify, however that is the convention finals within the NBA playoffs and this stuff occur,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stated. “As many turnovers as we had, our guys continued to play, continued to battle and located a solution to get a three-point cushion and the ball. So at that time we simply gotta end it off.”

Aaron Nesmith (5) and Myles Turner (4) accounted for 9 of the 22 giveaways, however Tyrese Haliburton additionally turned the ball over thrice — together with twice in key moments. He dribbled the ball off his foot when Indiana led by three with 27.7 seconds left in regulation, then misplaced the ball out of bounds with 1:02 remaining in time beyond regulation.

“I believe it’s extra on us,” Haliburton stated. “They’re an amazing defensive staff. They bought nice, nice defenders — particular person and staff defenders — however they’re not a staff who forces a ton of turnovers. They’re a strong, strong staff. I simply felt like extra of (the turnovers) had been in all probability on us than them forcing them. We bought to scrub that up, and out of doors of (Sport 1) and one sport final collection, we’ve actually taken care of the ball. So, we’ll repair it in Sport 2.”

High-seeded Boston has received Sport 1 in every of its three playoff collection this 12 months, but it surely didn’t win Sport 2 at residence in opposition to Miami within the opening spherical and in opposition to Cleveland within the convention semifinals.

After Thursday’s sport, the best-of-seven collection will shift to Indianapolis for Video games 3 and 4.

“Include the mindset of don’t chill out,” Boston star Jayson Tatum stated. “Completely different circumstances. The primary two rounds we received our Sport 1 by a large margin, so possibly human nature performed into that. However (Tuesday) being an in depth sport, going into time beyond regulation, we actually felt like we must always have received and we might have performed higher.”

All the Celtics’ starters scored a minimum of 15 factors in Sport 1. Tatum led the best way with 36, however Boston additionally acquired a season-high 28 factors in 48 minutes from 33-year-old Jrue Vacation, who additionally had eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.

Haliburton (25 factors) and Siakam (24) had been Indiana’s main scorers. Turner additionally took benefit of Kristaps Porzingis’ absence by tossing in 23 factors.

Porzingis, Boston’s beginning middle, has missed the previous seven video games with a calf pressure. ESPN reported that he might return for Sport 4 of the convention finals.

“He’s working onerous each single day to make as quick of a restoration as he can,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla stated of Porzingis. “He’s there for every thing and it might probably’t go underestimated how onerous he works, attempting to come back again in a well timed trend.”