Thanks to a stellar second-half performance by Tyrese Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers secured a 122-112 victory over the Boston Celtics in the quarterfinals of the NBA’s in-season tournament. The win solidifies the Pacers’ spot in the tournament’s quarterfinals, scheduled to take place in Las Vegas later this week. Haliburton put up impressive numbers, recording 26 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds, further enhancing his outstanding season.
The game was closely contested in the early stages, with the Celtics taking a slight lead at halftime after finishing the second quarter with a 12-2 run. However, it was in the third quarter that the Pacers surged ahead, fueled by a remarkable performance from Haliburton.
Haliburton either scored or assisted on the Pacers’ first 19 points of the second half, erasing the seven-point halftime deficit. The Pacers dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Celtics 37-23 and entering the final period with a seven-point lead.
Although the Celtics managed to tie the game in the fourth quarter, Haliburton sealed the victory for the Pacers in the final two minutes with an incredible four-point play, sinking a deep 3-pointer. This sparked a 10-4 run for the Pacers, securing a 10-point win.
Haliburton finished the game shooting 10-of-18 from the field and 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, achieving his first-ever triple-double. The 23-year-old, who previously played for Iowa State, has been enjoying a stellar season, averaging a career-high 27 points and 11.8 assists. Buddy Hield contributed 21 points to the Pacers’ victory, while Myles Turner recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds. All five Pacers starters scored in double figures, with the team shooting over 47% from the 3-point line.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 32 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Jaylen Brown with 30 points and nine rebounds, and Derrick White with 18 points.
With this win, the Pacers advance to the East semifinals in Las Vegas, where they will face either the Milwaukee Bucks or the New York Knicks on Thursday night. The Bucks and Knicks will compete in their quarterfinals game on Tuesday.