Schedule and 2003 Results
Regular Season Records: Indiana 48-34, Boston 44-38
Game 1 on Saturday, 19 Apr: Boston wins at Indiana, 103-pts-100
Game 2 on Monday, 21 Apr: Boston loses at Indiana, 89-pts-77
Game 3 on Thursday, 24 Apr: Indiana loses at Boston, 101-pts-83
Game 4 on Sunday, 27 Apr: Indiana loses at Boston, 102-pts-92
Game 5 on Tuesday, 29 Apr: Boston loses at Indiana, 93-pts-88 (OT)
Game 6 on Thursday, 1 May: Indiana loses at Boston, 110-pts-90

SERIES NOTES:

After Game 6: The Boston Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers in Boston, 110-pts-90, to win Game 6 and win MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 series 890 by a 4-games-2 tally. The Boston Celtics now have a best-of-7 NBA playoff series record of 51-15, while the Indiana Pacers now have a best-of-7 NBA playoff series record of 6-6. The win order for the Boston Celtics in series 890 was WLWWLW: Series 890 is the 30th best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL series and the thirteenth NBA series to follow this win order.

After Game 5: With MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 series 890 returning to Indianapolis for Game 5, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Boston Celtics 93-pts-88 to cut the Celtics' series 890 lead to 3-games-2. When leading a best-of-7 series 3-games-2, the Boston Celtics have a series record of 26-0; when trailing 3-games-2, the Indiana Pacers have an 0-4 series record. Indiana shut out Boston during the first overtime -- an unprecedented feat in best-of-7 NBA playoff history.

After Game 4: Playing Game 4 on its home court, the Boston Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers 102-pts-92 to take a 3-games-1 series 890 lead. When leading a best-of-7 NBA playoff series 3-games-1, the Boston Celtics have a series record of 21-0; when trailing a best-of-7 NBA playoff series 3-games-1, the Indiana Pacers have a series record of 0-1.

After Game 3: With series 890 having moved to Boston for Games 3 and 4, the Boston Celtics took advantage of their home court in Game 3 by defeating the Indiana Pacers 101-pts-83 to take a 2-games-1 lead in their best-of-7 NBA Preliminary round series. When leading a best-of-7 NBA playoff series 2-games-1, the Boston Celtics have a series record of 32-3; when trailing a best-of-7 NBA playoff series 2-games-1, the Indiana Pacers have a series record of 0-5. In the history of best-of-7 NBA playoff series from 1947 through 2002, when a team wins Game 3 by 18+ points to take a 2-games-1 series lead, its series record is 18-5 (.783). Of the 23 teams to win Game 3 by 18+ points to take a 2-games-1 series lead, the Boston Celtics have done it seven times (the most of any NBA team): Boston's series record in those seven series is 6-1.

After Game 2: The Indiana Pacers defeated the Boston Celtics in Indianapolis, 89-pts-77, to even best-of-7 series 890 at 1-game-all. When tied 1-game-all in a best-of-7 NBA playoff series, the Boston Celtics have a 21-10 series record, while that for the Indiana Pacers is 2-1.

After Game 1: The Boston Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers 103-pts-100 in Indiana, thereby taking a 1-game-nil series 890 lead on the road. The Indiana Pacers led by 10 points at home after three quarters: In best-of-7 NBA playoff games from 1947 through 2002, the home team had a 45-0 game record when leading by ten points after three quarters, and any team (home or road) with a ten-point lead after three quarters had a 68-0 game record ... so while larger leads after three quarters had been surmounted, there had been no precedent for overcoming a deficit that was specifically ten points after three quarters. When leading a best-of-7 NBA series 1-game-nil, the Boston Celtics have a 43-4 series record (losing only in 1973, 1977, 1982, and 1985); when trailing a best-of-7 NBA series 1-game-nil, the Indiana Pacers have an 0-5 series record.

Pre-series assessment: In the 2002-03 regular season, the Indiana Pacers finished 4 games ahead of the Boston Celtics. From 1947 through 2002, when an NBA team led its best-of-7 playoff series opponent by 4 regular-season games, it has gone on to post a 15-5 best-of-7 series record against that opponent. MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 series 890 is the 12th best-of-7 playoff series for the Indiana Pacers and the 66th for the Boston Celtics. In best-of-7 playoff series, Indiana has a 6-5 series record and a 6-5 Game 1 record, while Boston has a 50-15 series record and a 47-18 Game 1 record. Series 890 is the first best-of-7 meeting between Indiana and Boston. The Indiana Pacers last played in a best-of-7 NBA playoff series in 2000; the Boston Celtics last did so in 2002.