The Boston Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, punching their ticket to the 2024 NBA Finals. Jaylen Brown took home the Eastern Conference Finals MVP as Boston clinched their second Finals appearance in three seasons.
Here are three things you might have missed from the game.
1. Jrue Holiday’s Michael Jordan shrug
Back-to-back. The two-time. Ol’ Reliable.
Just one game after his and-one, big-bodied bucket in the paint to help the Celtics take a 3-0 series lead, Jrue Holiday pulled out the same exact move at a crucial moment in Game 4.
Boston was trying to claw their way back into the game, and Holiday drove inside, got Obi Toppin in the air with a pump-fake, nailed the and-1, and hit Indiana with a Michael Jordan shrug.
Pascal Siakam didn’t necessarily bite on a pump-fake in Game 3, but the play was the same. Holiday came through when the Celtics needed him most.
2. TJ McConnell is Michael Jordan
After Game 3, Jaylen Brown said that some players on the Pacers “turned into f****** Michael Jordan.”
After Game 4, he revealed that he was talking about one player: TJ McConnell.
Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images
“I was just going for the ball,” Brown said, detailing the play where he sent McConnell crashing to the ground. “The game is so fast. [I was] just trying to make a play on the ball, and I think I got him in the face a little bit. And you know, TJ’s my guy. I’ve got nothing but respect for TJ McConnell. We talked throughout the year. We talked even before this series.
“Man, TJ’s a dog. When I said that some of those guys turned into Michael Jordan, TJ McConnell is who I was talking about, man. He was like one of the more unstoppable players on that team. So, I didn’t mean no harm. I got him in the face a little bit, but rub some dirt on it, and hopefully it’ll be alright.”
We sprinted around the halls trying to find the elevator to go to the court and came across so many Celtics fans wandering the halls (and a few Pacers fans chanting ‘Go Mavs’) pic.twitter.com/vR9zpuiTSs
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzellNBA) May 28, 2024
3. Celtics fans in Indy
When the Celtics were receiving the trophies post-game, Gainbridge Fieldhouse was packed. Packed with green.
Boston fans completely dominated the stands as Boston celebrated their win, and “Let’s go, Celtics” chants broke out, ringing through the entire arena. And they were loud. Deafeningly loud.
The energy was incredible. Celtics fans travel well.
