Oh man, it's beginning to feel a lot like 2022 in here.
Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum lifts himself from the hardwood in Boston's Game 4 NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors. | Elsa/GettyImages
Last night, the Indiana Pacers captured a Game 3 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder to take a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Finals. Even for Boston Celtics fans, who suffered perhaps the cruelest fate this postseason, the Pacers have been an [absolute joy to watch.](https://hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celtics-new-york-knicks-meltdown-eastern-conference-finals-indiana-pacers-hate-watch)
This Indiana team represents how fun the playoffs can be when there aren't any hefty expectations looming overhead. Sure, they made the Eastern Conference Finals last season and put up an impressive fight against a juggernaut Celtics team, but their fanbase didn't enter the postseason with a "championship or bust" mindset.
Their "team of destiny" feel is eerily similar to that of the 2021-22 "Energy is About to Shift" Celtics, as Boston's radio play-by-play man Sean Grande aptly pointed out on Wednesday.
> 2022 CelticsUnder .500 on Jan. 18 games out in the East35-12 finish8-3 on the road in the playoffs......a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals2025 PacersUnder .500 on Jan. 113½ games out in the East34-14 finish6-3 on the road in the playoffs...
>
> ...a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) [June 12, 2025](https://twitter.com/SeanGrandePBP/status/1933002822502453580?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
**Celtics fans might be having 2022 flashbacks after seeing the Pacers win Game 3**
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These two teams had nearly identical paths to being just two wins away from an NBA title. They struggled to start their campaigns, got red hot in the second half of the season, and carried that momentum over to taking a lead in the Finals.
Now, it would be pretty unfair to put the 2022 Golden State Warriors at the same level of powerhouse as this 68-win Thunder team, but their previous championship experience made them feel like a much more daunting opponent.
Even the way Indiana and Boston captured their 2-1 leads feels like watching a remake of an old movie. Three years ago, the Celtics stunned the Warriors in Game 1 by erasing a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit by simply making every single three they took.
Meanwhile, the Pacers stormed back from down 13 to steal Game 1 at Paycom Center last week. A Tyrese Haliburton game-winner left the basketball stunned in the days before Game 2, which did NOT go as well.
Each inspiring win was followed by a haymaker response from each of the higher-seeded teams. Golden State stomped the Celtics 107-88 in 2022, while OKC dominated Indy for a 16-point (but it felt like way more) win in this Game 2.
Both Indiana and Boston managed to defend home court in their respective Game 3s with impressive wins that injected significant doses of hope into the arms of their fans. The Pacers would be sharp to separate themselves from the 2022 Celtics at this point.
Boston followed their Game 3 display with one of the most deflating losses I've ever seen. Had they not won the title last season, I can guarantee you that I'd still be complaining about it to this day. The Celtics seemed primed to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Dubs, leading by five points and momentum on their side, midway through the fourth. They then proceeded to score just three points in just under four minutes as Stephen Curry led Golden State to a series-tying victory.
Sure, the Finals was even at two games apiece heading back to The Bay, but it felt like any chance Boston had of capturing Banner 18 was left on the parquet in that Game 4 letdown. The Warriors didn't lose another game and the Celtics had to wait two more years before returning to the top of the basketball world.
As fantastic as it must feel to be a Pacers fan after Game 3, it could all be for naught if they drop the ball on Friday. Here's to hoping they're a better team than Boston was in this spot.