Celtics handle Pacers, take 2-0 Eastern Conference finals lead

 ## The Celtics took a 2-0 lead in the East Finals behind Brown's 40-point outburst

The Boston Celtics took a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals with a convincing 126-110 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night.    The Celtics controlled the game from the opening tip thanks to Jaylen Brown's outstanding performance.

 

Brown erupted for a game-high 40 points, matching his career playoff high. He was efficient from the field, shooting 14 of 27 from the floor and 8 of 11 free throws. The Celtics also got strong contributions from Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart, who finished with 25 and 20 points, respectively.

 

The Pacers, despite a valiant effort from Domantas Sabonis (a triple-double with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists), were unable to keep pace with the Celtics' offensive firepower. Indiana's supporting cast struggled to score, with no other Pacers reaching 15 points.

 

With the series shifting to Indiana for Game 3 on Saturday, the Celtics will look to keep their momentum going and take control of the conference finals. On the other hand, the Pacers will need to find a way to generate more offense outside of Sabonis if they hope to get back into the series.