Pacers face elimination in Video game 4 of Eastern Conference Finals

INDIANAPOLIS-- The Indiana Pacers' 2024 campaign might come to a close Monday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Indiana is facing a 3-0 deficit in its best-of-seven, Eastern Conference Finals series versus the Boston Celtics. With a Memorial Day win, the Celtics might clinch the series and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals.

If the Pacers win on Monday, they'll go back to Boston on Wednesday for Game 5.

Boston is the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics finished the routine season with a 64-18 general record.

Indiana got in the postseason as the No. 6 seed in the east. The Pacers went 47-35 during the regular season.

Despite coming into the series as clear underdogs, the Pacers have actually had chances to win 2 of the three games they've played in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Indiana was up three points with the ball with 8.1 seconds left in guideline in Game 1. A Pacers turnover, followed by a 3-pointer from Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, pressed the game into overtime. Indiana then fell, 133-128, in the extra frame.

Boston beat Indiana handily in Game 2, getting a 126-110 win at TD Garden.

When the series moved to Indianapolis, the Pacers put themselves in position to pick up another postseason victory. Indiana led by as much as 18 in Game 3 before ultimately falling, 114-111.

The Pacers missed their last three shots of the video game, consisting of a last-second 3-point attempt from guard Aaron Nesmith that would've tied the contest and forced overtime had it gone in.

Indiana did not rating in the last minute and 26 seconds of Game 3. The Pacers also devoted a key turnover down one point with 3.1 seconds left in the contest.

Had the Pacers won the 3rd and first video games of the series, they would've been up 2-1 in the series with a possibility to extend their lead. Instead, Indiana may be playing its last game of the 2024 season tonight.

Indiana lacked All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton in Game 3. He suffered a hamstring injury during Game 2.

Haliburton was noted as doubtful on the NBA's initial injury report for Game 4.

Indiana distressed the third-seed Milwaukee Bucks and the second-seeded New York Knicks on their way to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers beat the Bucks, 4-2, in the preliminary and downed the Knicks, 4-3, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals will begin at 8 p.m. Monday. The game will air on ESPN.