![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-05-24T032016Z_1917874554_MT1USATODAY23366241_RTRMADP_3_NBA-PLAYOFFS-INDIANA-PACERS-AT-BOSTON-CELTICS.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
May 23, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots the ball against Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) in the first half during game two of the eastern conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-05-24T032016Z_1917874554_MT1USATODAY23366241_RTRMADP_3_NBA-PLAYOFFS-INDIANA-PACERS-AT-BOSTON-CELTICS.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
May 23, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots the ball against Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) in the first half during game two of the eastern conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Myles Turner invited trouble amid the Pacers‘ dangling future in the season. The table toppers Celtics continued to maul their opponents, as they were just one win away from a clean sweep and entering the Finals again. Amid this tense situation at Indianapolis, the Pacers’ young center and Jaylen Brown engaged in a brawl on the court.
Around the 7th-minute mark in the third quarter, the refs called an offensive foul on Turner after he pushed down Derrick White with a shoulder jab. Following the whistle, the Celts’ star forward Brown went up close and pushed away the Pacers’ center. In response, Turner aggressively pushed JB and threw in some harsh words.
Myles Turner and Jaylen Brown both received technical fouls for this play. pic.twitter.com/Dw2Xv8dTdL
— ESPN (@espn) May 28, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The refs immediately took the matter into their own hands and went on an official review. After inspection, they declared a technical foul each for JB and Turner. While the refs made the right decision on this occasion, there were two other occasions when the refs ignored them with a blind eye. One of them even involved Jaylen Brown.
Firstly, during the second quarter, Celtics’ Payton Pritchard successfully pump-faked Isaiah Jackson and went for an easy bucket. But, before that, Jackson, who got faked, kicked Pritchard in the face mid-air. While it seemed like a clear flagrant foul, the refs didn’t even attempt to review the play. They instead offered a common foul.
The Pacers got away with a controversial decision in the first half but had the taste of their own medicine in the last quarter. Pacers’ TJ McConnell raced on the lane for a lay-up and unfortunately got dragged down in mid-air by Brown. And he didn’t just drag him down but also landed a heavy punch in his face. Again, the refs called it a common foul, this time, after reviewing the play.
Amid the controversial calls, the Celts seal the Finals berth
The refs may have lost their trick in the game but the Celtics never miss their clutch in this series. For the third time in the series, the Pacers blew their game despite having a lead in the fourth quarter. Heading into the final five minutes of the game, the Pacers had a 8-point lead and looked like forcing Game 5.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
However, the Celtics reminded everyone that they were the table toppers with sheer dominance in the final minutes. In the last 3 minutes, the Pacers went scoreless and the Celtics gained a 3-point lead and sealed the deal. Thanks to Jrue Holiday and JB for their clutch performance.
Holiday, who made a clutch bucket and a steal in Game 3 to snatch the win again, pulled off massive defensive plays at the end to buy a Finals ticket for the side. With 4 seconds on the clock, Holiday collected a clutch offensive rebound to restrict the Pacers from leveling the score.
And, for the overall performance, Jaylen Brown won the Conference Finals MVP, averaging 30.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists in the series. Notably, the star bagged the Larry Bird Trophy after the league snubbed him with the All-NBA team honor. Will he replicate the same action in the Finals? Let us know in the comments.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow in what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, had to say about the marketing genius, watch this video.