Based on past performances, generating good offense is unlikely to be a problem for either team when the Indiana Pacers visit the Boston Celtics for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night.
Sixth-ranked Indiana led the NBA in scoring during the regular season, when she averaged 123.3 points per game. Top-seeded Boston averaged 120.6 points per contest during the regular season, which ranked No. 2.
The Pacers shot 67.1 percent from the field — an NBA playoff record — in defeating the host New York Knicks 130-109 in Game 7 of the conference semifinals on Sunday. Tyrese Halliburton led the way with a 26-point performance.
“I’m just proud of this group,” Indiana’s Myles Turner said. “This is the most special group I’ve been around since I’ve been here. We all play for each other. There’s no ego. When you have guys scoring 15-plus points every night — seven, eight guys — there can be a lot of ego involved, and we’ve Can be removed in early season bud.
“And obviously Pascal (Siakam) coming here in the middle of the season, adding his leadership and everything he’s been able to provide for us offensively and defensively is huge. … We’re not done yet.”
Halliburton averaged 20.1 points per game in the regular season, but Siakam is the team’s leading scorer in the playoffs (21.2). The pacers have scored at least 140 points 11 times this season.
“I think it’s an old-school way of thinking you can’t play that fast in the playoffs, but I think opportunistically you can,” Halliburton said. “I think if we can get stops, of course we can.”
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown carry much of the weight on the offensive end for the Celtics. Tatum is averaging 24.3 points and 10.4 rebounds through 10 playoff games. Brown is averaging 23.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in the postseason.
“We understand what we can do individually,” Tatum said. “Each night just kind of presents different challenges and being prepared and ready to do whatever it takes because we’re both capable of literally everything on the basketball court.”
Indiana swept the Milwaukee Bucks in the opening round before beating New York. Boston advanced by defeating the Miami Heat in the first round and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference semifinals. There were five matches in each series.
The Celtics will be without center Kristaps Porzingis, who will also miss the second game of the series with a calf injury. Porzingis was injured during Game 4 of Boston’s series against Miami. The Celtics have a 5-1 record in the playoffs when Porzingis has not played.
“You know he wants to play,” Boston’s Jew Holliday said. “You know he wants to get out there and play with his teammates, but then it’s good to see him out there and see him work. And honestly hope he gets better soon so we can get him back out there.”
Boston won three of five meetings against Indiana during the regular season.
“Really excited to get back out there and play,” Holliday said. “Looks like we’ve been out for a while, very excited to get out of Game 1, kind of get it going.”
