Celtics top Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS >> Jayson Tatum scored 31 points, including the final four in the last minute of overtime, and the Boston Celtics outlasted the Indiana Pacers 142-138 Thursday night.
Jaylen Brown added 30 points as the Celtics improved the NBA’S best record to 43-17.
It was 138-all with 56.2 seconds left before Tatum hit a pair of free throws. He capped the scoring with a tip-in off the glass with 10.4 seconds to go.
Myles Turner tied his career high with 40 points for the Pacers. He made a career-best eight 3-pointers and Indiana shot 22 of 49 overall on 3s.
In a game with 17 lead changes by the end of the fourth quarter, the Pacers had the last shot in regulation, but Tyrese Haliburton’s deep 3-pointer from the top of key bounced off the back rim.
Haliburton had 22 points and 14 assists. Buddy Hield, the league’s 3-point leader, made four 3s and finished with 18 points. Bennedict Mathurin added 19 points off the bench.
Malcolm Brogdon, a former Pacers point guard, scored 24 off the bench for Boston.
The Pacers rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to outscore the Celtics 39-32 in the third quarter. Turner sank three 3s in the period as the Pacers made eight beyond the arc.
TIP-INS
Celtics: Improved league-best road record to 19-10 . ... Tatum is averaging a career-high 30.6 points, nearly four points above his previous season best. The sixth-year pro scored a record 55 points to earn NBA All-star MVP honors on Sunday.
Pacers: Dropped to 1815 at home . ... Haliburton leads league in assists at 10.3 per game and is second in points/assists double-doubles with 25.
UP NEXT
Celtics: Visit Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
Pacers: Visit Orlando Magic on Saturday.