Jayson Tatum gets last laugh over old Celtics rival as Boston beats Pacers in overtime

Former teammates Jayson Tatum and Aaron Nesmith faced off in a heated matchup during Game 1 of the NBA 's Eastern Conference finals, with the Boston Celtics getting the last laugh over the Indiana Pacers .

Tatum hit a game-clinching 3-pointer with half a minute left in overtime to give the Celtics the 133-128 win. He finished the game with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists despite shooting just 2-of-8 from the 3-point line.

Nesmith earned his first official start for Indiana in the playoffs, putting in 40 minutes of action. While he struggled from beyond the arc, Nesmith made valuable contributions with 14 points and six rebounds and displayed an unmatched hustle on defense that transcended the stat sheets.

READ MORE: Tyrese Haliburton produces miraculous buzzer beater but Celtics still beat Pacers
READ MORE: Nikola Jokic may be out but four international stars can light up NBA Conference Finals

The Pacers held a narrow 117-114 lead over the Celtics with just 14 seconds remaining on the clock. But, Tatum's fade-away field goal attempt missed the mark with 10 seconds left, giving Indiana possession. Despite being down by 13 points earlier in the game, the Pacers showed resilience and inbounded the ball to Pascal Siakam with 8.5 seconds remaining. But the ball slipped off Siakam's fingertips as he cut to the basket, ruling in a turnover in Boston's favor.

With no timeouts left, the Celtics seized the opportunity. Statistically, as the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA, they inbounded the ball to Jaylen Brown, who drained a 3-pointer with just 5.7 seconds remaining to tie the game and force overtime. Brown set the tone early in the first quarter with a powerful dunk over Nesmith, igniting an energetic atmosphere in the arena. Fans took to social media to share their reactions to the dunk's replay, highlighting the electrifying atmosphere at the TD Garden during the game.

During an inbound play involving Nesmith, a tense moment unfolded between the former teammates as Nesmith appeared to get verbally chippy with Tatum. Microphones picked up Tatum, telling the referees: "I'm not worried about anything" - seemingly brushing off Nesmith's competitive spirit.

Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories.

Another noteworthy incident occurred involving Nesmith and another former teammate after he was pushed in the back during a drive to the basket and slipped onto Brown. The play was reviewed for a potential flagrant foul on Nesmith, but after careful consideration, the referees ruled it a normal personal foul, determining that Nesmith had slipped rather than committed a flagrant act.

Nesmith became a focal point of the Pacers' defense in overtime, showcasing his versatility with two crucial offensive rebounds that led to easy baskets, giving Indiana a late-game lead. Yet, Nesmith's defensive efforts were stretched thin as he tried to guard multiple players, leaving opportunities for Brown and Jrue Holiday to exploit mismatches, particularly when switched onto Andrew Nembhard.

Despite Nesmith's contributions, Brown and Holiday's strategic play down the stretch ultimately helped the Celtics secure the win. After winning Game 1 of the series, the Celtics will return to TD Garden for a home-court advantage in Game 2 on May 23. Boston is searching for the 18th NBA title after last winning in 2008.