 | 114 | FINAL | 111 |  |
| Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN | May 25, 2024 |
Key Moment
Leave it to Jrue Holiday to make the biggest defensive play of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Holiday, a Second Team All-Defensive performer this season who certainly could have been chosen to the First Team, came up clutch with his defense on the most important possession of the game. It arrived with less than 10 seconds remaining and with the Celtics leading by just one point.
Jayson Tatum had just missed a driving layup with 10.1 seconds left on the clock to give Indiana a chance to take the lead. Andrew Nembhard took the ball in transition and attempted to drive past Holiday, but Holiday jumped Nembhard’s driving lane and poked the ball away with his left hand. This occurred right after Holiday somehow avoided tumbling to the ground as he lost his balance backpedaling to the defensive end of the court.
Holiday not only poked the ball away from Nembhard, but he also corralled the loose ball with 3.3 seconds left. He took the ball in the opposite direction and was intentionally fouled by Pascal Siakam with 1.7 seconds left on the clock. The 15-year vet went to the line and canned both freebies to push Boston ahead by three.
Indiana failed to score out of a timeout, leaving the Celtics with a commanding 3-0 series lead that was sparked by their defense and Holiday’s clutch steal.
Key Stats
 | | | | |  | | |  |
| Jayson Tatum | Jayson Tatum | Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | Indiana Pacers | Al Horford | Al Horford | Boston Celtics | Derrick White |
| 36 Points | 10 Rebounds | 8 Assists | 7 Turnovers | 22.73 3-Point Percentage | 7 3-Pointers Made | 23 Points | 12 Blocks | 4 Blocks |
