Jaylen Brown’s clutch performance sent the game into overtime, but everyone agrees Jrue Holiday was the real star as Boston won 133-128 against the Pacers in Game 1.
Holiday’s Defense Shines
Tyrese Haliburton admitted that Holiday’s defense was the key factor in their defeat. “He’s the best defender in the NBA. He has been for a long time,” said Haliburton. “It’s frustrating, but we learn from our mistakes and move on to Game 2.”
Offensive Contributions
Holiday wasn’t just a defensive powerhouse; he also scored a season-high 28 points, second only to Jayson Tatum’s 36.
Jrue Holiday locking down Haliburton in OT was absolutely beautiful defense
— Celtics Junkies (@Celtics_Junkies)
This game marked his fourth consecutive match scoring at least 13 points since December. It seems like being named second-team All-Defense fueled his performance.
I think consistency is key here.
Even Jaylen Brown, who made the crucial shot to force overtime, praised Holiday. He also contributed with seven rebounds, eight assists, and three steals.
“Jrue was fantastic,” Brown said postgame. “Shoutout to Jrue. He came out and balled; he’s why we won this game.”
Confidence and Poise
Holiday always believed they would win. “Close games never bother us,” he said confidently.
Maturity Over Chaos
Jayson Tatum believes their maturity over three seasons helped them stay calm under pressure during chaotic moments of Game 1.
“That s— was chaos; that s— was wild,” Tatum remarked about their resilience. “But as long as there’s time on the clock and the game is within reach, we feel like we have a chance.”
“This core group has been through so many big moments,” he added. “We’ve lost leads and still won; we’ve come back from deficits.”
Holiday echoed this sentiment: “Inexperience led to Pacers’ turnovers.” They always believed they had it in them to make big plays when it mattered most.
