Brown matches career playoff high with 40 points, Celtics beat Pacers to take 2-0 lead in East

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown was a big enough problem for the Indiana Pacers even before an All-NBA snub that may have given him an added desire to show how much he can do for the Boston Celtics.

“I think he cares about it in a way that motivates him, and I think he doesn’t really care about it at all,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said after watching Brown match his playoff career high of 40 points in Boston’s 126-110 victory over Indiana in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night.

“He understands that winning is the most important thing,” Mazzulla said. “He just cares about the right stuff.”

Two nights after his game-saving 3-pointer and one day after he was left out of the voting for the league’s top 15 players, Brown scored 10 points during a 20-0 Boston run that turned a first-quarter deficit into a second-quarter lead that the Celtics never relinquished.

Asked if the All-NBA snub motivated him, Brown said, “I wouldn’t say that.” Asked to elaborate, he said colorfully: “We’re two games from the finals. I don’t got time to (care).”

Jayson Tatum and Derrick White scored 23 points apiece and Jrue Holiday had 15 points and 10 assists for the top-seeded Celtics, who lost Game 2 in both of their previous series this postseason.

Pascal Siakam scored 28 points for Indiana, which heads home for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday nights in an arena where they have won 11 straight games — including six in the playoffs — since March 18. Tyrese Haliburton, who had 25 points and 10 assists in the series opener, had 10 points and eight assists Thursday before leaving the game in the third.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Haliburton injured his left hamstring — the same injury that kept him out of 10 games in January.

“We need Ty, but ‘next man’ mentality," Siakam said. "We’ve got to play together. This team got where we’re at by playing together. ... It’s on us to continue.”

One game after the Celtics jumped to a 12-0 lead and Indiana spent the rest of the first half clawing its way back, the lead changed hands 10 times in the opening quarter, with the Pacers holding a 27-22 edge with 1:14 left.

Then Boston scored the next 20 points.

Indiana missed nine straight shots and committed four turnovers during the drought that lasted more than six minutes. Brown scored 10 on his own during the run and had 24 at the half; he opened the third quarter with two quick baskets to give the Celtics a 61-52 lead.

But Siakam also came out hot in the second half, hitting four baskets in the first four minutes – a pair of 2s and a pair of 3s – to make it a two-point game. Boston pulled away again – this time for good, scoring 16 of the next 21 points.

Indiana never got within single digits again.

Brown scored 26 points Tuesday night, when the Celtics won thanks to some unforced errors by the Pacers — especially Haliburton — down the stretch. On Wednesday, Brown was left off the All-NBA teams; last year’s selection to the second team qualified him for a five-year supermax extension that made him the highest-paid player in the NBA.

“I mean, he has it going,” Holiday said. “Y’all see what I see. Great player. Great leader. But wants to win. And takes thinks into his own hands. So I’m glad to have him on my side. I ride with him. The way JB’s been playing, man, it’s outstanding.”

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Members of the Indiana Pacers watch from the bench during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals against the Boston Celtics, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) grabs a rebound next to Indiana Pacers forward Isaiah Jackson (22) during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum runs back to defend after scoring during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) is defended by Boston Celtics center Al Horford during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) center looks to pass during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals against the Boston Celtics, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) drives to the basket between Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and guard Derrick White (9) during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Celtics forward Oshae Brissett (12) celebrates after dunking against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) reacts after scoring during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, shoots over Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (26) during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Members of the Indiana Pacers sit on the bench during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals against the Boston Celtics, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) is defended by Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) grabs a rebound next to Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard, right, during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) reacts on the court during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

PHOENIX (AP) — A judge on Friday rejected an effort by GOP lawmakers to use the term “unborn human being” to refer to a fetus in the pamphlet that Arizona voters will use to weigh a ballot measure that would expand abortion access in the state.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Whitten said the wording the legislative council suggested is “packed with emotion and partisan meaning” and asked for what he called more “neutral” language. The measure aims to expand abortion access from 15 weeks to 24 weeks – the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb.

It would allow exemptions to save the woman’s life or to protect her physical or mental health. It would also prevent the state from adopting or enforcing laws that would forbid access to the procedure.

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, who is a co-chair of the legislative council, said the group will appeal the court’s decision to the state Supreme Court.

“The ruling is just plain wrong and clearly partisan,” said Toma, a Republican.

Aaron Thacker, communications director for Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, noted that the final decision on the ballot itself remains in the air.

“There’s still a lot of scenarios at play," he said. "Even after the secretary certifies the signatures, the courts have to decide if counties can put it on the ballot or not."

Arizona for Abortion Access, the organization leading the ballot measure campaign, sued the council earlier this month over the suggested language and advocated for the term “fetus,” which the council rejected.

Attorney General Kris Mayes wrote in a motion to submit an amicus brief that “fetus" and “pregnancy” are both neutral terms that the council could adopt.

“It’s incredibly important to us that Arizona voters get to learn more about and weigh our measure in objective and accurate terminology,” said Dawn Penich, communications director for the abortion access group.

Democrats have centered abortion rights in their campaigns in this year’s elections. Organizers in five other states have also proposed similar measures that would codify abortion access in their state constitutions: Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada and South Dakota.

Arizona organizers submitted more than double the amount of signatures needed for the measure to appear on the ballot.

FILE - Arizona abortion-rights supporters deliver over 800,000 petition signatures to the capitol to get abortion rights on the November general election ballot July 3, 2024, in Phoenix. A judge on Friday, July 26, rejected an effort by GOP lawmakers to use the term “unborn human being” to refer to a fetus in the pamphlet that Arizona voters will use to decide on a ballot measure that would expand abortion access in the state. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)