Indiana Pacers' Pascal Siakam delivered a thrilling performance, scoring 21 points, including a game-winning 7-foot bank shot with 6.1 seconds left, as the Pacers secured their first three-game winning streak of the season, defeating the Boston Celtics 98-96 on Monday night. The Celtics' Derrick White missed a crucial 3-point attempt in the final seconds, after tying the game at 96-all with a driving layup just 28.6 seconds prior. Siakam's clutch performance also included eight rebounds and six assists. Despite the loss, the Celtics' Payton Pritchard led the team with 23 points and eight assists, while White contributed 18 points and Anfernee Simons added 16. The Celtics were without their leading scorer, Jaylen Brown, who missed the game due to lower back spasms and was fined $35,000 for criticizing referees. With a 24-15 record, the Celtics remain third in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers, on the other hand, improved to 9-31, surpassing the New Orleans Pelicans in the standings. The Pacers' Jay Huff scored 20 points, including four 3-pointers, and the team is now on a four-game homestand, hosting Toronto on Wednesday.
