Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 40 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 126-110 victory over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Thursday in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Brown finished 14 of 27 from the floor and made 8 of 11 free throws. He added five rebounds. Boston had a 13-point lead after three quarters and the Pacers were never within 11 points in the fourth.
The win gave Boston a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which moves to Indianapolis for Game 3 on Saturday. The Celtics won the first game 133-128 in overtime.
“I think we adjusted a little better in the second game,” Brown said. “I still think we can play a little better, so we’re looking forward to doing that in the third game.”
The Pacers do not know if point guard Tyrese Haliburton will be available for this game. He left with left hamstring soreness in the third quarter Thursday. He had 10 points and eight assists in 28 minutes. He missed 10 games in January with left hamstring strain.
READ | NBA: Tatum scores 36 points as Celtics beat Pacers 133-128 in Game 1 of East Finals
“Losing Ty for the game is obviously a big blow,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. “We will know more (Friday) and even more on Saturday. …I know you want details. I don’t have much.
Pascal Siakam made 13 of 17 field goal attempts and led the Pacers with 28 points. Andrew Nembhard added 16 points for Indiana.
Jayson Tatum and Derrick White each scored 23 points for the Celtics. Al Horford had six points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Brown led all first-half scorers with 24 points. Boston trailed 27-25 after one quarter, but held a 57-51 lead at halftime.
Boston took the lead on a 20-0 run. The Celtics scored the final three points of the first quarter and the first 17 points of the second quarter to take a 42-27 lead. Indiana didn’t score in the second quarter until Aaron Nesmith made two free throws with 6:45 left in the quarter.
Indiana was within two points, 68-66, after Siakam’s three-point basket with 7:55 left in the third, but Boston had a 93-80 advantage heading into the final 12 minutes.
The Pacers are 6-0 at home in the playoffs this season. The Celtics are 4-0 on the road.
Indiana also lost the first two games to the New York Knicks in the conference semifinals, then won that series in seven games.
“The only thing we should think about is they were down 2-0 a series ago and they took it to Game 7 and they’re doing a great job protecting their home court.” , said Boston coach Joe Mazzulla. “They are undefeated at home, so it will take a lot more than confidence to get the job done, and we need to focus on details and execution. … I know they will react, so it’s up to us to do the same.”
Luke Kornet of the Celtics left the game in the first quarter with a sprained left wrist and did not return to the court.
Boston center Kristaps Porzingis missed his eighth straight game with a calf strain.
