INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers' 2024 campaign could come to a close Monday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Indiana is facing a 3-0 deficit in its best-of-seven, Eastern Conference Finals series against the Boston Celtics. With a Memorial Day win, the Celtics could clinch the series and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals.
If the Pacers win on Monday, they'll return to Boston on Wednesday for Game 5.
Boston is the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics finished the regular season with a 64-18 overall record.
Indiana entered the postseason as the No. 6 seed in the east. The Pacers went 47-35 during the regular season.
Despite coming into the series as clear underdogs, the Pacers have had chances to win two of the three games they've played in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Indiana was up three points with the ball with 8.1 seconds left in regulation in Game 1. A Pacers turnover, followed by a 3-pointer from Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, pushed the game into overtime. Indiana then fell, 133-128, in the extra frame.
Boston beat Indiana handily in Game 2, picking up a 126-110 win at TD Garden.
When the series moved to Indianapolis, the Pacers put themselves in position to pick up another postseason victory. Indiana led by as much as 18 in Game 3 before ultimately falling, 114-111.
The Pacers missed their last three shots of the game, including a last-second 3-point attempt from guard Aaron Nesmith that would've tied the contest and forced overtime had it gone in.
Indiana did not score in the last minute and 26 seconds of Game 3. The Pacers also committed a key turnover down one point with 3.1 seconds left in the contest.
Had the Pacers won the first and third games of the series, they would've been up 2-1 in the series with a chance to extend their lead. Instead, Indiana might be playing its last game of the 2024 season tonight.
Indiana was without All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton in Game 3. He suffered a hamstring injury during Game 2.
Haliburton was listed as questionable on the NBA's initial injury report for Game 4.
Indiana upset the third-seed Milwaukee Bucks and the second-seeded New York Knicks on their way to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers beat the Bucks, 4-2, in the first round and downed the Knicks, 4-3, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals will begin at 8 p.m. Monday. The game will air on ESPN.