The Indiana Pacers were eliminated from the NBA Playoffs on Monday night. It wasn’t a close series against the top-seeded Boston Celtics, either — Indiana lost all four games and played the final two without its best player, Tyrese Haliburton. Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals ended with the Pacers losing 105-102 at home.
But we’re not here to talk about what a mostly boring series this was. We’re here to talk about how Pacers’ forward Isaiah Jackson (accidentally!!) kicked Celtics guard Payton Pritchard in the face after biting on a pump fake and leaping for a block. Unfortunately for Pritchard, he remained grounded, watching Jackson fly past him only for a surprising left shoe uppercut to rock him right upside the head.
Jackson did block Celtics star Jayson Tatum on a layup attempt at one point in Game 4, but when you drill a guy in the face with your shoe, the real highlights can be overshadowed. This was also the second time Jackson’s foot has met another face. It also previously happened against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jordan McLaughlin.
When it was all said and done, Jackson’s final game of the 2023-24 season closed with him posting four points (2-4 FG), five rebounds, two blocks, and one turnover in 11 minutes of action.
Jackson ends his third season as a pro (all with Indiana) putting up per-game averages of 6.5 points, four rebounds, and one block in 13.1 minutes per outing while shooting a career-high 66.5 percent from the field. His overall numbers have slightly dipped year-over-year, but the former Wildcat carved out an impactful role for the Pacers’ postseason run.
Barring a trade, expect Jackson back in Indianapolis for the 2024-25 season. The franchise picked up its club option on his contract back in the fall and will have him locked in for at least one more season. He’ll then become a restricted free agent in the 2025 offseason.
5/27/24 statistics
Tonight in the NBA Playoffs
WCF | Game 4 | DAL leads 3-0
8:30 (TNT/truTV): [3] Timberwolves (Towns) @ [5] Mavericks (Washington)
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