Well-rounded performance from Jrue Holiday key in Celtics’ Game 1 win
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum hit the big shots, but it was Jrue Holiday who carried the Celtics through the ups and downs of their win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The highlight moments from the Boston Celtics’ Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night will be remembered for the big moments – Jaylen Brown’s game-tying three-pointer at the end of regulation, and a couple of clutch Jayson Tatum shots on his way to a 10-point overtime. However, this game was much more than that.
Before the Celtics had a chance to light the fireworks, they were fighting just to stay in the game. They blew multiple 13-point leads in a game that featured 10 lead changes and 11 ties.
As Tatum and Brown struggled during those stretches, Jrue Holiday was often the one delivering the Celtics counter-punches. It was a solid effort from the 33-year-old guard, who played arguably his best game as a Celtic in this one.
Playing 48 minutes, Holiday finished the game with a season-high 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting, going 4-of-8 from three. He also added eight assists, seven rebounds, and three steals. There were also the kind of defensive plays that don’t show up in the box score, including drawing offensive fouls on the Pacers at key points in the game.
“[Jrue] is the kind of guy that’s going to impact the game in different ways every night,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said after the game. “Tonight, it was his scoring, his playmaking, and his defense. A well-rounded game by him. And I thought he, just his poise and his demeanor throughout the game was instrumental for us.”

“Jrue was fantastic. Jrue was exceptional. And shout out to Jrue. Jrue came out and balled, and he was the reason we won this game,” Brown exclaimed postgame. “And he just was poised; he took advantage of his matchups; he just was so elite. That is a lot, and he’s guarding [Tyrese] Haliburton, picking him up, chasing him around. That was special from Jrue Holiday.”
As for Holiday himself, he said he was just focused on being a presence on the floor. “Just continuing to be aggressive, continuing to work on my game, continuing to have my coaches and my teammates in my ear, telling me they’re going to need me,” he replied when asked about his 20-point second half. “Even just knowing, especially times during the game, just being aggressive. No matter what end of the floor it’s on. Continuing to do that and see what happens.”
Holiday and the Celtics will be back on the floor on Thursday night for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden. Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on the BetMGM 98.5 The Sports Hub Celtics Radio Network.