The Boston Celtics had their own version of the Jordan “Flu Game” Saturday night: Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals will always be known as the “Jrue Game.”

Boston recovered from an 18-point deficit, and Jrue Holiday overcame an illness to score the game-winning bucket and steal. Together, they defeated the Indiana Pacers 114-111 at Gainsbridge Fieldhouse to take a 3-0 series lead.

Holiday was unwell earlier in the day and couldn’t attend the team’s shootaround, so his status was listed as “questionable” until around tip-off time. However, nothing was going to stop him from dressing up and taking the court.

“I didn’t feel too well, but, I guess I just figured if I got a good day’s rest or tried to sleep through it, that would help me for tonight,” Holiday said. “It’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, so I wasn’t going to miss this game.”

He didn’t miss the game, and he didn’t miss in the clutch.

With 38.9 seconds left, Holiday drove to the hoop and threw in a game-tying left-handed layup off contact from Pascal Siakam. Boston’s senior point guard then went to the free throw line and put his team up 112-111, its first lead since the second quarter.

“I think I just saw a chance and took an opportunity,” Holiday said of the bucket. “I felt like [Siakam] was on his heels. He wasn’t really expecting me to attack downhill. So I attacked him and just tried to be aggressive and got the and-one.”

On the other end, he still had one big play in his bag. With 3.8 seconds left, Holiday jumped in front of Andrew Nembhard, who was driving in for the potential winning shot. He collected the ball and ran up the court before being fouled, then finished off the Pacers with two more crucial free shots.

“That was an unbelievable play,” Al Horford said of the steal. “A guy like that coming full speed and having the instincts to do that, he’s just a winner. Ultimately, that’s what it comes down to. He’s a winner. And he stepped up in such a big way for us tonight in that moment, also when he got the and-one, then knocking down those free throws at the end. He’s a winner, man. I’m so fortunate to be playing next to him. I don’t take it for granted.”

Holiday contributed to the win in a variety of ways, ending with 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block in 38 minutes.

The other four starters also contributed in their own unique ways. Jayson Tatum recorded 36 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks, and one steal in 44 minutes of turnover-free play. Jaylen Brown scored 24 points on 10-for-18 shooting. Al Horford scored 23 points and became the oldest player in playoff history to make seven three-pointers in one game. Derrick White finished with 13 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and four blocks.

However, Holiday deserves the game ball for overcoming adversity and making the greatest plays of the night.

“I can’t speak highly enough about Jrue,” said Tatum. “The ultimate teammate competitor, obviously a champion, wasn’t at shootaround today, he was sick, dealing with chills and stuff like that. We’ve all been there, how tough that is, to fight through it, and for him to come out there and lay it all on the line for us, make the game-winning play essentially, especially on the defensive end. Jrue is just a big-time player, and he made a tremendous play.”

As Brown put it simply, “Jrue is different. Nothing really else to say. Jrue is just different.”