The Indiana Pacers have been one the biggest surprise packages this season and have proven many of their doubters wrong as they prepare to make an unexpected return to the playoffs.Not only are they set to secure a postseason berth this year, they look likely to do it with home court advantage in the first round too.The Pacers beat the Boston Celtics on the road for the second time this year with a 99-97 victory on Sunday and it moved them to third in the Eastern Conference standings.With a 38-29 record, they moved ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers who suffered a defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers.Nobody would've seen this coming from Indiana after they traded Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the summer.They were widely criticised for the deal which saw them acquire Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis in return.But those people have been made to eat humble pie as the two players have played a big part in their success this season.Oladipo has transformed into one of the best guards in the league and earned his first All-Star appearance last month.Sabonis was not expected to a play a big role but he has improved many aspects of his game, leading head coach Nate McMillan to make him part of the rotation and become one of the most important players on the roster.He has shown an ability to score in a variety of ways and it has seen him play 25 minutes a night and take full advantage of the opportunity he's been given in Indianapolis.Against the Celtics, the 21-year-old showed off another weapon in his offensive arsenal as he produced the highlight play of the game.After collecting a pass from Trevor Booker, the Lithuanian drove into the lane and threw down a vicious one-handed dunk over German Daniel Theis.

It was a powerful flush by the second-year man and it stunned the crowd inside TD Garden into silence as it gave the visitors a nine-point lead on their way to an impressive triumph.

The youngster finished the game with 10 points and six rebounds, while Victor Oladipo top-scored for the Pacers with 26 points, to go along with three rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

This was Indiana's third consecutive victory on the road and they are sending out a strong message to the rest of the east that they will not be an easy proposition in the playoffs.

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