Pacers Face Tough Overtime Loss to Celtics in Game 1 of NBA Playoffs

BOSTON -- The Indiana Pacers faced a challenging 133-128 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night. Despite leading by three points with the ball in the final 10 seconds of the fourth quarter, the Pacers made critical mistakes that cost them the game. The team struggled with turnovers, committing 21 throughout the game, including two crucial errors in the last seconds of regulation. Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith expressed regret over the missed opportunity to secure a victory at home. The Pacers had a chance to seal the win at the free-throw line, but an errant inbound pass led to a tying 3-pointer by Jaylen Brown. Guard Tyrese Haliburton acknowledged the team's responsibility in the loss, emphasizing the need to clean up their mistakes. Coach Rick Carlisle took the blame for not taking a timeout to advance the ball late in the game. Despite the defeat, the Pacers remained optimistic, recognizing their ability to compete with the Celtics and vowing to learn from their errors in preparation for Game 2 on Thursday.