Pascal Siakam's clutch three-pointer in overtime propelled the Indiana Pacers to a thrilling 135-132 victory over the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics on Wednesday. This stunning upset marked the Celtics' first loss of the season, leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers as the only undefeated team in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers, led by Bennedict Mathurin's 30 points and 11 rebounds, showcased their offensive prowess early on, building a 24-point lead in the third quarter. However, the Celtics mounted a furious comeback, outscoring Indiana 38-24 in the fourth quarter. Jayson Tatum's step-back three-pointer with 14.4 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 129-129.
Derrick White's driving layup gave Boston a 132-130 lead with 39.7 seconds remaining, but Siakam's heroics sealed the deal for the Pacers. His game-tying basket followed by the decisive three-pointer over Haliburton with 7.3 seconds left secured the victory for Indiana.
Tatum led the Celtics with 37 points, while Jaylen Brown added 25 and Derrick White contributed 23. Despite their valiant effort, the Celtics' late-game execution fell short.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a disappointing 134-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The game was billed as a homecoming for LeBron and Bronny James, who made history as the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game. However, the Lakers struggled throughout the game, plagued by turnovers and poor shooting.
The Cavaliers dominated from the start, shooting 77.3% from the field in the first quarter. Caris LeVert's steal and three-pointer extended Cleveland's lead to 24 points early in the third quarter. Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 25 points, while Donovan Mitchell added 24.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 26 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Cavaliers' dominant performance. The Lakers' loss dropped them to 2-2 on the season.
In other NBA action, the Detroit Pistons secured their first win of the season, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 105-95. Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 23 and 22 points, respectively. The 76ers, missing Joel Embiid and Paul George due to injuries, struggled to keep pace with the Pistons.
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