The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers will meet in the Eastern Conference finals with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. The Celtics will have almost gone a week without playing before Game 1 tips off as they took care of the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games in the second round.
It probably should've been a sweep, but the Cavs managed to steal one from a Boston team that has looked like juggernaut all season long. Led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Boston has quietly gone through the postseason without being challenged a great deal, and while the Celtics are heavy favorites against the Pacers to win this series, Indiana is coming off a remarkable second-round win against a New York Knicks squad that pushed it to its limits.
The Pacers finished off the Knicks in Game 7 to advance to the East finals, and before that eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Both rounds featured series-altering injuries to the Bucks and Knicks, but while some may look at that as an easier path to the conference finals, the Pacers still had to go out there and take care of business, which is what they did. Against the Knicks, the Pacers fought back from an 0-2 deficit in the first two games, tied the series back up, were on the brink of elimination in Game 6, and walked into Madison Square Garden and sent the Knicks packing to advance to the next round. Not exactly an easy task.
Both teams have had very different journeys to get to the conference finals, but now all of that is in the past as both teams prepare to face off with hopes of making it to the NBA Finals.
Celtics vs. Pacers schedule, scores
All times Eastern | * If necessary
- Game 1: Tuesday, May 21 -- Pacers at Celtics, 8 p.m., ESPN
- Game 2: Thursday, May 23 -- Pacers at Celtics, 8 p.m., ESPN
- Game 3: Saturday, May 25 -- Celtics at Pacers, 8:30 p.m., ABC
- Game 4: Monday, May 27 -- Celtics at Pacers, 8 p.m., ESPN
- Game 5*: Wednesday, May 29 -- Pacers at Celtics, 8 p.m., ESPN
- Game 6*: Friday, May 31 -- Celtics at Pacers, 8 p.m., ESPN
- Game 7*: Sunday, June 2 -- Pacers at Celtics, 8 p.m., ESPN
Celtics vs. Pacers
Where to watch
