Tyrese Haliburton Praises Jrue Holiday as NBA's Best Defender After Pacers-Celtics G1

Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton praised Celtics guard Jrue Holiday after the pair's back-and-forth battle in Boston's 133-128 win over Indiana in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

"He's the best defender in the NBA and has been for a long time. ... I'll learn from it, and I'll be better in Game 2," Haliburton said after the game.

Holiday forced Haliburton into a critical turnover with Indiana down 124-123 with 1:02 remaining in overtime. Jayson Tatum knocked down a three on the Celtics' ensuing possession, and the Pacers never had the ball again while they were within one possession.

Holiday had one of the best two-way games of his career and by far the best game in his first season with the Celtics on Tuesday. He finished with 28 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and three steals while ramping up his defensive pressure on Haliburton late.

"Jrue is the that kind of guy, and credit him for making the (NBA) All-Defensive (second) team," Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters. "He is the kind of guy that can impact a game in different ways every night and tonight it was his scoring, his playmaking and his defense and his all-around game.

"I thought his poise and his demeanor through out the game was instrumental for us."

Holiday has largely taken a backseat on the offensive end during his first season in Boston, with his usage taking a massive drop while playing alongside Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis. However, he hit a career-high 42.9 percent of his threes during the regular season and remains one of the NBA's most verasile defenders.

If Holiday keeps shooting the way he has of late and Porzingis gets back in the lineup sooner than later, it's hard to see these Celtics not hoisting a championship.