One play rarely decides a game, yet the conversation around Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics centers on a critical defensive lapse. With a three-point lead and under 10 seconds left, the Pacers failed to foul, allowing Jaylen Brown to catch the ball and hit a game-tying three-pointer. This oversight, compounded by earlier mistakes, ultimately contributed to the Celtics’ 133-128 overtime victory.
JAYLEN BROWN TIES THE GAME AT 117!
5 SECONDS REMAINING IN GAME 1 ON ESPN #NBAConferenceFinals presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/QS6b3v8Kjy
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2024
Both Pacers’ head coach Rick Carlisle and guard Tyrese Haliburton acknowledged the plan was to foul. However, Pascal Siakam, caught in a difficult position, decided against it. Brown received the ball already squared up to the basket, making a foul attempt risky and likely to result in a four-point play. “Yes, there was an instruction to foul,” Carlisle confirmed. “But [Brown] caught the ball and was faced up, so Pascal decided to lay off, which I understand.”
The root of the issue wasn’t just the failure to foul, but the defensive setup allowing Jaylen Brown to catch the ball in a dangerous position. The Pacers’ defensive alignment should have focused solely on guarding the three-point line, switching everything to prevent an open shot. Instead, miscommunication and poor execution left Siakam trailing Brown due to a misdirection screen by Boston.
JAYLEN BROWN pic.twitter.com/i04X2TDzTC
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 22, 2024
T.J. McConnell, who could have switched onto Brown, stayed with his original assignment, forcing Siakam to chase from behind. “As soon as I got to him, I was a little late because of the screen,” Siakam explained. “He was going up, so I didn’t want to do it. It was just a judgment call.”
Despite the difficult circumstances, Siakam executed a strong close-out, avoiding fouling Jaylen Brown on his landing. However, the real mistake was not preventing Brown from getting the ball in a position to shoot. Proper switching and defensive prioritization could have mitigated this risk.
LeBron PISSED the Celtics winning pic.twitter.com/LHzk7QuZX9
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) May 22, 2024
This is not the first time Carlisle’s strategy has faltered in crucial moments. In the first round against Milwaukee, the Pacers nearly blew a game by not fouling Khris Middleton, who hit a game-tying shot. They escaped with an overtime win then but weren’t as fortunate this time.
KHRIS MIDDLETON TIES IT WITH 1.4 LEFT IN THE GAME 🔥
OVERTIME IN INDY! pic.twitter.com/5VlFZkAQ5x
— ESPN (@espn) April 27, 2024
The lesson for the Pacers is clear: when leading by three in the final seconds, prioritizing the three-point line and committing fouls must be unequivocally enforced. “LeBron James, who tweeted immediately after Brown’s shot, knows the deal,” the article concludes. Carlisle’s intent was right, but the execution and defensive setup failed, costing the Pacers a critical win in the series.
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