The Indiana Pacers had a prime opportunity to turn the tide in the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night, but their hopes were dashed as the Boston Celtics staged a miraculous late-game comeback to seize a 114-111 victory. Now facing a commanding 3-0 deficit in the best-of-seven series, the Pacers find themselves on the brink of elimination.

Playing without their star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was sidelined due to injury, the Pacers put on an impressive performance at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. They shot lights out, taking as much as an 18-point lead over the Celtics in Game 3. However, their efforts were ultimately in vain as Boston staged an improbable rally, stealing the win right out from under Indiana's grasp.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, clearly disappointed with his team's collapse, dismissed any mention of their late-game failure during the post-game press conference. When reminded by a reporter of their eight-point lead disintegration in the final minutes, Carlisle abruptly cut off the question, stating, "I just watched the ending, so you don't need to remind me. I saw everything that happened - everything. Everything. Everything that happened, yeah. Anybody else?"

This loss puts the Pacers in a precarious position. As the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, they entered the NBA playoffs with high hopes. However, they now find themselves just one loss away from the end of their season. To compound their difficulties, there is also concern that Tyrese Haliburton may once again be sidelined for Game 4 against the Celtics.

Time is running out for the Pacers to turn the tide in this series. The Celtics have firmly established their dominance, and Indiana will need to summon all their strength and resilience to mount a comeback. Will they rise to the challenge and keep their season alive, or will the Celtics close the door and advance to the NBA Finals? Only time will tell as the teams prepare for a pivotal Game 4.