Jaylen Brown plays hero as Celtics trio makes history in Game 1 win over Pacers

Jaylen Brown plays hero as Celtics trio makes history in Game 1 win over Pacers originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia

Jaylen Brown will be remembered as the hero in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals after hitting a game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to send the Boston Celtics into overtime, where they took that momentum to 133-128 over the Indiana Pacers and a 1-0 series lead.

After helping force an Indiana turnover with just under nine seconds left in regulation, Brown received a pass from Jrue Holiday in the far corner.

Stifled by Pacers defender Pascal Siakam, Brown confidently rose for the 3-point shot and drilled it with just under six seconds remaining. The Pacers would fail to score before the end of the fourth quarter, sending the game into overtime.

Brown’s clutch third was his only 3-point attempt of the night as he finished 1-4 from beyond the arc.

“Before the entry, I was talking to myself, ‘If I get this shot, she’ll get in,’” Brown said about his shot after the game. “I told myself all the time, ‘If you can do it, you’ll move up and you’ll get in.’

Brown finished the game with 26 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the field – third in team scoring behind Jayson Tatum (36) and Jrue Holiday (28, a new season high). The three All-Stars also recorded three steals each making them the first trio in NBA playoff history to record over 25 points and three steals each.

To cap off his big night, Brown also recorded seven rebounds, five assists and one block.

Veteran Al Horford was thrilled with Brown’s performance in Tuesday night’s win, telling NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin how strong Brown really was.

“JB man – great shot.” Horford told Chin of the 3-point shot to save Brown’s game. “Great chance to send it to extra time and after that, Joe [Mazzulla] We said we had another opportunity and we took advantage. [Brown and Tatum] He stepped up and made big plays when we needed him to.”

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was also pleased with the team’s execution on Brown’s game-tying shot.

“It was a well-executed play by the boys,” Mazzulla told the media after Tuesday night’s victory. “I thought Derrick White set a great screen, I thought Jaylen [Brown] had great balance – a great pass [from Jrue Holiday] and a great shot – it was a play well executed by the guys. Good situational awareness, good execution.”

After defending home field advantage in Game 1, the Celtics will look to tighten their grip in hopes of taking a 2-0 series lead when they return to TD Garden on Thursday night for Game 2 of the Conference Finals East.