LONDON, United Kingdom, May 22 – The Celtics’ Jaylen Brown scored a three-pointer with six seconds remaining to level the scores at 117-117 and take the game to overtime at the TD Garden in Boston.
Jayson Tatum, who finished with 36 points, scored a three-pointer and Derrick White a lay-up in quick succession inside the final minute to make the game safe for the top-seeded Celtics.
“Welcome to the NBA playoffs. Anything can happen,” said Brown, who scored 26 points.
“It’s not over until the final buzzer sounds. We found a way to win the game at the very end.”
The Pacers gave up 21 turnovers, including shortly before Brown’s late three-pointer.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the loss was “totally on me” after failing to call a timeout before Brown scored.
Game two takes place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday.
The winners of the best-of-seven series will face the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Dallas Mavericks, who meet in the Western Conference Finals, in the NBA Finals starting on 6 June.
