Oladipo’s 3-pointer sends Pacers to 102-101 win over Celtics News

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Oladipo’s 3-pointer sends Pacers to 102-101 win over Celtics

By Daily Sports on November 5, 2018

Victor Oladipo heard the final buzzer and pranced to the sideline, pointing both index fingers to the floor, and mouthing, “My city.”

Oladipo’s 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds remaining Saturday night gave Indiana a 102-101 comeback victory over the Boston Celtics and was yet another example of his increasingly routine heroics at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The All-Star guard, who was battling bronchitis, finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds and said he envisions his heroics.

“Moments like this, yeah,” Oladipo said, “and moments like this down the line.”

The game was a tense affair with 10 ties and 18 lead changes and a compelling matchup between Indiana and Boston.

The Celtics led 101-97 when Kyrie Irving hit a 3 with 37.2 seconds to go, but Jaylen Brown fouled Oladipo at 29.2 seconds, and he made both free throws to set up the dramatic finish.

With 11 seconds left, Oladipo rebounded Irving’s miss, dribbled across midcourt and pulled up from the right wing, launching over the outstretched arms of Boston center Al Horford. As the ball dropped through the net, Oladipo skipped toward the bench.

“We were really calm,” Oladipo said. “The crowd was excited, but we were calm. We knew we needed one more stop.”

After the Celtics used a timeout to advance the ball and draw up a final play, Gordon Hayward inbounded but had his pass deflected and stolen by Oladipo, snapping a four-game win streak for Boston, which reached the Eastern Conference finals last spring.

The Pacers, coming off a first-round playoff exit, passed an early-season test in large part by repeatedly earning free throws. While Boston attempted only nine, and made six, Indiana shot 19 of 25 from the line. (ESPN)

•Photo shows Victor Oladapo

Source Daily Sports

Posted November 5, 2018