There's no nice way to put it: The Pacers, up 3 with seconds left in regulation, flat-out blew it

This one's going to leave a mark.

MY COUCH, Ind. – Pascal Siakam was so close to Jaylen Brown, his chin in the Boston star’s mug, so close he could tell what Brown had for lunch. The idea was to foul, the Pacers leading by three with 7.5 seconds left; that’s what Rick Carlisle had instructed. But Boston’s inbounds pass and the inbounds play were executed perfectly, and by the time Siakam could fight through a back pick set by Derrick White and got over to Brown in the corner, it was too late to foul.

He just had to contest…and pray.

The prayer was not answered.

Brown buried the three, sent the game into overtime, at which point the collapse was largely complete.

Can you imagine? Two turnovers in the last 27 seconds of regulation? Two of them in a game when they turned it over 21 times, significantly more than the 10.8 turnovers they’ve averaged through these playoffs? With a 3-point lead both times? One by Tyrese Haliburton, who inexplicably dribbled the ball out of bounds when Jrue Holiday brought pressure to bear. One by Andrew Nembhard and Siakam, who failed to hook up on an inbounds pass close to the Celtics basket, providing Boston with its last-gasp attempt to tie the game.

Which they did.

Inexcusable.