The Pacers eliminated the Celtics from the NBA’s in-season tournament on Monday night, picking up a win on their home floor, 122–112.
Adding salt to the wound of the knockout round victory was Indiana’s Buddy Hield, who drained a meaningless three-pointer as the clock expired to extend the Pacers’ lead from seven to 10.
The crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse erupted after Hield’s late three, and the 30-year-old was celebrating with his teammates after sending Boston home from the first-ever in-season tournament.
The Celtics, of course, had not hidden their desire to run up the score during the group stages of the in-season tournament, when point differential could potentially have an impact on a team’s placement in the knockout rounds.
Lmao Buddy Hield puts the icing on the cake by burying the three at the buzzer with the game already decided. pic.twitter.com/i6CamNuh8a
— Oh no he didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) December 5, 2023
While the margin of victory bears no impact on the Pacers advancing to the next round, Hield didn't hesitate to pull up for the needless three-pointer.
After the game, reporters asked Joe Mazzulla for his thoughts on Hield’s antics.
“I don’t care. I could care less,” said Boston’s head coach, via Jay King of The Athletic.
During the group stages of the in-season tournament, Mazzulla and Bulls coach Billy Donovan were seen having a heated discussion after the Celtics tactically fouled Andre Drummond during a blowout in order to expand their margin of victory. Boston was ahead 32 points at the time, and Mazzulla later apologized.
It was Hield and the Pacers who got the last laugh in that regard, however, with the sharpshooter draining a petty three-pointer to give Indiana a double-digit lead as time expired.
