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Pacers give Celtics first loss of the season, ascends Carlisle in NBA history
The Indiana Pacers put a blemish on the NBA defending champions’ record this season when they defeated the Boston Celtics in overtime, 135-132.
It seems like the Pacers will go all the way in regulation when they have erected a 24-point lead in the third quarter but the Celtics made a surge in the fourth period and forced the game into OT.
The breakdown of the Pacers in the fourth quarter just mirrored Indiana's campaign in the new season, starting with 2-3 records. But it looked like they found their groove once again in the extra minutes of play to defeat their Eastern Conference rival.
Pascal Siakam hit a fadeaway to tie the game late in overtime and followed it up with a three-pointer that eventually sealed the game.
Siakam finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, while Bennedict Mathurin scored a team-high 30 markers, along with 11 boards, and four dimes.
Obi Toppin also helped the Pacers’ campaign with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Tyrese Haliburton added 17 markers, six boards, and 12 dimes.
Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum top scored the game with 37 points with eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Jalen Brown and Derrick White added 25 and 23, respectively.
Photo Courtesy: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
The triumph also gave Rick Carlisle a milestone in his coaching career when he overtook his idol Bill Flitch to become the new 11th-ranked coach in NBA when it comes to wins. He now has 945 victories as a head coach in the league.
In 2011, Carlisle won his lone NBA championship with Dallas Mavericks.
However, after capturing gold with Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas, the champion mentor failed to reach the second round of the playoffs until he joined the Pacers the second time around and led them to the Eastern Conference Finals last season against the eventual champions Boston Celtics.
Ironically, Carlisle began his NBA journey with the Celtics in 1984, and 40 years later, the most successful franchise helped him land another benchmark in his career.
