C stars Derrick White and Jrue Holiday make the All-NBA Defensive Team

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) squares off against Boston Celtics guard Derrick White during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA second round playoffs on Monday, May 13. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

The Celtics have had one of the NBA's best defenses this season, so it was no surprise that several Boston players earned spots on the league's All-Defensive teams announced Tuesday.

Guards Derrick White and Jrue Holiday were both selected to the All-Defensive second team along with Chicago's Alex Caruso, Orlando's Jalen Suggs and Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels.

It was the second consecutive All-Defense nomination for White, who along with Holiday form one of the league's stingiest backcourts. Holiday is a staple of this squad, having previously earned first-team honors in 2018, 2021 and '23 and second-team honors in 2019 and 2022.

“They're just two versatile guys that you can use in different matchups and play different strategies with,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at TD Garden. “It gives you a lot of flexibility.”

The five first-team players that year were Rudy Gobert of Minnesota, Victor Wembanyama of San Antonio, Bam Adebayo of Miami, Herb Jones of New Orleans and Anthony Davis of the Lakers.

The Timberwolves and Celtics – who finished first and second in defensive rating during the regular season, respectively – were the only teams with multiple All-Defense representatives.

Among the 24 other players who received votes were Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

“Listen, (White and Holiday) get the vote, but I think one of the things that's been great this year is the guys' ability to defend at a high, high level,” Mazzulla said. “Everyone out there takes their match personally.

“This series will be a big test for our defense – team defense and individual defense.”

Boston's East Final opponent, the Indiana Pacers, led the NBA in points and field goal percentage during the regular season and ranked second in offensive rating.

Tillman not available

The Celtics have ruled out forward Xavier Tillman for Tuesday's game for personal reasons. Tillman shared on Instagram that his father, Roosevelt, recently died.

The 25-year-old Tillman, who Boston acquired before the trade deadline, is a strong option in the Celtics' frontcourt, but he has played sparingly despite the continued absence of starting center Kristaps Porzingis.

Porzingis was sidelined for the seventh straight game as he recovered from a strained soleus in his right calf. Al Horford was his main replacement, with Luke Kornet replacing Horford off the bench.

Green machine

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle didn't concede defeat, but he was very open about what his team was struggling with before Game 1 against the Celtics.

The Celtics won three of the five regular season meetings, including one during the in-season tournament. The Celtics each scored 112 or more points, with a high of 155 on November 1st. Tatum had 30 points in that matchup.

“These guys have been the clear favorite to win all year,” Carlisle said. “They won the Eastern Conference and were dominant, so it’s a big task.

“That's clear and that's why we just have to make it as difficult as possible for them. It depends on what the matchups are going to be, and it's almost impossible to keep up with these guys because of their size and skill level.

“They all shoot the ball from long range and the only one who doesn't shoot threes is Kornet and he used to shoot them. We have a plan and we have contingencies.”

Indiana in a nutshell

Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton has become the face of the franchise following playoff victories against Milwaukee and New York.

Haliburton was phenomenal in the first three months of the season before being sidelined with a hamstring injury in January. Haliburton found his form over time and exploded in the playoffs, reaching the 30-point mark twice in the seven-game series against the Knicks.

“The playoff moments, the advancement and his exceptional play in Game 7 are the things that really endear a franchise player to the fans,” Carlisle said. “That's how Reggie Miller left his mark with the Pacers for 18 years.”

“Over time he was humble and learned a lot, and the lessons he learned humbled him.”

From the edge

Two weeks, two playoff games for the Patriots' top draft pick, Drake Maye. After playing Game 4 of the Bruins' second-round series last Sunday, the rookie quarterback was in the house on Tuesday to watch the Celtics-Pacers. … White arrived at TD Garden wearing a Hillary Knight PWHL Boston jersey. Knight's squad also had a playoff game on Tuesday night: Game 2 of the best-of-five PWHL Finals against Minnesota at Lowell's Tsongas Center.