This year, all the momentum seems to be with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics rallied from an 18-point deficit to win a come-from-behind victory and move to within one win of the championship game.

The Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers 114-111 in Game 3 of the best-of-seven 2023-2024 National Basketball Association (NBA) Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in 홀덤 Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

With the three-game victory, Boston needs just one win in Games 4-7 to advance to the championship game for the second straight year after finishing as runner-up in the 2021-2022 season. Last season, they lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals in four games to three.

Even with Indiana ace Tyreese Halliburton out for the night with a leg muscle injury, the Pacers struggled, trailing by 18 points at one point in the third quarter, 66-84. However, they began to rally and cut the deficit to 81-90 heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Celtics struggled to keep up with Indiana and trailed 106-111 with just over a minute left in regulation. But Al Horford’s three-pointer with 1:12 to play brought them within two, 109-111. Then, with 38 seconds left in regulation, Jru Halladay scored in the lane and converted the extra free throw after being fouled to make it 112-111.

Indiana missed an Andrew Nemhard miss on the ensuing possession, and still down by one, Nemhard lost the ball on a steal by Holiday with three seconds left in regulation when the Pacers regained possession.

Boston was led by Tatum’s near-triple-double performance with 36 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Horford followed with 23 points, including seven 3-pointers.

Indiana, which will be without Halliburton for Game 4, was led by Nemhard’s 32 points. In the best-of-seven NBA playoffs, no team has ever won four straight games after losing three to turn a series around. Game 4 between the two teams will be played at the same venue on Nov. 28.