Mateo’s Hoop Diary: East Finals MVP Jaylen Brown led the Boston Celtics over the Indiana Pacers, punching a ticket to the NBA Finals

The Pacers tried to prolong the inevitable, but the Celtics locked up the hosts in the last three-and-a-half minutes to sweep the series and advance to the NBA Finals. Gainbridge Fieldhouse was rocking like a madhouse, but most home supporters dispersed, and the cheers of rival fans echoed through the building as Gang Green celebrated at center court.

Team governor Wyc Grousbeck dedicated the win to former Trail Blazer and Celtic Bill Walton, who died of cancer on Memorial Day Monday.

Coach Joe Mazzulla said, “As a coach, the greatest gift you can have is a group of guys that trust you…”

Next, Jaylen Brown was handed the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy by former Celtic great Cedric Maxwell. He briefly savored the moment and made clear the objective is to “get some more.”

Yet early, Indiana’s Andrew Nembhard downed two mid-range jumpers off the dribble. Pascal Siakam swished two fadeaways in the paint. And TJ McConnell blasted through interior protections.

Nembhard continued to produce, setting up Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner and McConnell, but the the second half wasn’t as prosperous for his top running mates. Siakam misfired a right-wing tray behind Turner’s pin down and bricked two in the corners, and McConnell converted 33% of attempts.

But Jayson Tatum and Brown were unstoppable, attacking the basket. Jrue Holiday shot efficiently and hauled in nine boards. And Derrick White ripped the ball from Turner plus asphyxiated the passing lanes with five steals and sunk the dagger into the Pacers’ chest with a corner three with 45 seconds left.

Brown accidentally clipped McConnell in mid-air in the face while going for a loose ball, sending Indiana’s guard violently to the floor on his backside. As the Pacers were up six points with seven minutes left, it was ruled a common foul when it should’ve been flagrant.

Yet Brown still had his finest moments in the fourth quarter. He canned two 3-pointers, pivoted past Toppin in the lane for an eight-foot floater, grazed Siakam’s kick out, causing a turnover and switched onto Nembhard’s drive and denied his shot at the cup as the game was tied at 102 with a minute left.

The Celtics won 105-102. On top of that, the group had 48 paint points, 14 on the break, 11 via second chances, nine off turnovers and 10 from the bench.

Brown averaged 29.8 points on 51.7% shooting, including 37% from long range, with five rebounds and three assists per game in the series. He received five of the nine votes for East Finals MVP. Tatum had the remaining four.

The Celtics will make their 23rd Finals appearance and they outscored the Pacers by 27 points through four games.