The Boston Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers 114-112 on Friday night after Celtics superstar Kyrie Irving led the team with 30 points (on 11-22 shooting from the field and 3-8 shooting from three-point range), five assists and three steals in 35 minutes. Irving’s most important points, however, came with just 0.5 seconds left remaining in regulation.
As Pacers starters Wesley Matthews and Myles Turner moved towards Irving to trap him at the top of the key, Turner shifted toward Horford anticipating a pass from Irving on the drive. However, Irving kept it, slithered past Matthews and laid it softly off the glass.
Of giving Irving the opportunity to score the game-winning basket, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens would say “we just wanted to give him space, let him be him.”
Irving went just 2-7 in the fourth quarter but he was the star of the game. Horford, who would record 19 points, seven rebounds and three blocks was stellar as well while center Aron Baynes recorded his first double-double of the season, proving instrumental with 13 points, 13 rebounds, one block and a few bone-shattering screens.
The Celtics moved into fourth place in Eastern Conference standings following their victory over the Pacers and possess the head-to-head tiebreaker over Indiana.
