Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics’ finest player, was observed kissing his mother on the court of Gainbridge Fieldhouse following his team’s NBA Finals berth.

Tatum hugged his mother, Brandy Cole, and spoke briefly after his team swept the Indiana Pacers.

The star led the top-seeded Celtics to the NBA final series for the second time in three seasons, finishing with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists.

With 29 points, Jaylen Brown led the team in scoring and was voted MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals. However, Derrick White’s game-winning corner 3-pointer with 45 seconds left in regulation on Monday night in Indianapolis sealed the 105-102 win.

Andrew Nembhard led the sixth-seeded Pacers with 24 points and a postseason career-high 10 assists.

Boston once again played better basketball in the last minutes, overcoming a nine-point deficit.

Due to the Pacers’ defensive error, White found himself alone in the right corner for the game-winning shot. Brown saw White and gave him the ball, but his shot went over the net.

With 33.6 seconds left, Nembhard missed a three-pointer, and Tatum collected the rebound. Tatum missed a three-pointer with 8.3 seconds remaining as Indiana elected not to foul. 

However, with 4.7 seconds left, Jrue Holiday grabbed the offensive rebound and the Celtics ran out of time.

With 2:38 remaining in Game 3, Boston erased an eight-point deficit to win 114-111, their second consecutive comeback triumph in India.

On Monday, Holidаy led the Celtics with 17 points and nine rebounds, while White contributed 16 points, five steals, and three blocked shots. The team will play the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals.

T.J. McConnell contributed 15 points, while India’s Pаscаl Siаkаm concluded with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Obi Tоppin contributed 12 points, while Aaron Nesmith scored 14.

Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers missed his second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury.

The Celtics converted 14 of 44 3-point attempts, accounting for 44.9 percent of their field goal total.

Indiana was 10 of 29 from behind the arc, making 46% of its shots.

Early in the fourth quarter, McConnell scored six points in 64 seconds, giving the Pacers an 89-82 lead. With 8:57 remaining, Nembhard’s three-point shot made the score 94-85.

With 5:56 left, Nesmith made back-to-back baskets to give Indiana a 98-90 lead after Boston had cut the deficit to four points.

With 3:54 left, Holiday’s three-pointer pulled the Celtics within 100-98. The team responded with an 8-2 score.

With 2:40 left, Brown’s runner tied the score at 102.

Boston led 58-57 at halftime, thanks to Tatum’s 16 points. In the first half, Nembhard also scored 16 points.

In the last stanza, the Pacers led 83-80.