The Boston Celtics came back to beat the Indiana Pacers 133-128 in overtime of Game 1 of their Eastern Conference finals matchup on Tuesday night at TD Garden in Boston, Mass., and one decision the Pacers made had fans talking.
The Pacers were leading 117-114 with under 8.5 seconds left and Boston had the ball. Boston was inbounding the ball and threw a pass to Jaylen Brown in the corner, who made a 3-pointer to tie the game.
Watch EVERY ANGLE of Jaylen Brown's WILD 3-pointer to send Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals to overtime!#NBAConferenceFinals presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/FCvVApOmpR
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2024
Indiana very obviously had told Pascal Siakam not to foul on the play, because he got as close to Brown as possible without actually making contact with him.
Indiana’s decision not to foul was questioned immediately, most notably by LeBron James.
“And yall still wanna (sic) know why I would foul up 3 EVERY SINGLE TIME??” James wrote on X.
And yall still wanna know why I would foul up 3 EVERY SINGLE TIME??
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 22, 2024
Former NBA player Chandler Parsons said the same thing.
FOUL WHEN YOU ARE UP 3!!!
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) May 22, 2024
Others questioned the decision not to foul the Celtics and send the shooter to the free throw line.
THE CELTICS TAKE GAME 1
Pacers didn’t foul up three… pic.twitter.com/mJgTb7fzmT
— Overtime (@overtime) May 22, 2024
Always always always foul up 3. Carlisle continues to not do it. That and don’t turn the ball over up 3. Boston is so dusty but runs so pure. pic.twitter.com/9V0sQVepkk
— Tony Niehaus (@BigT44DFS) May 22, 2024
Foul up 3
Foul up 3
Foul up 3
Foul up 3
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) May 22, 2024
Every basketball team in the world should foul up 3 every single time. You can never convince me otherwise
— Braiden Turner (@bturner23) May 22, 2024
The game went to overtime tied at 117, and Boston outscored Indiana 16-11 in the extra period to win the game 133-128. The Pacers probably are more concerned with their 21 turnovers than their strategy not to foul.
