Several Indiana Pacers supporters were outraged Monday after one particular decision during the team’s elimination game loss to the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics swept the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning 105-102 in Game 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Pacers led for most of the second half and had a 94-88 advantage with less than eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. At 7:23, Pacers guard TJ McConnell attempted to grab an offensive rebound following an Andrew Nembhard miss. McConnell was hit hard in the face by Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown and crashed forcefully on the floor.
The referees examined the play for a potential egregious foul. Pacers supporters in Gainbridge Fieldhouse booed veteran official Zach Zarba after he announced that the contact was a routine loose ball penalty.
A number of fans and media people on X were also perplexed by the judgment.
The Celtics outscored the Pacers 17-8 the rest of the game. Brown made two important plays in the game’s last 65 seconds. The Celtics forward blocked Nembhard before assisting on Derrick White’s game-winning three-pointer, securing Boston’s 105-102 victory.
Brown’s exploits throughout the series earned him the Larry Bird Trophy, given to the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals.
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