NBA In-Season Tournament: Tyrese Haliburton inspires Indiana Pacers to victory over Boston Celtics, Pelicans beat Kings
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Updated 05/12/2023 at 12:50 GMT
Tyrese Haliburton inspired the Indiana Pacers to a stunning win over the Boston Celtics to reach the NBA In-Season Tournament semi-finals, as he scored a career-first triple-double. “The atmosphere was crazy! Our fans were amazing. It was a lot of fun, I loved this,” Haliburton told TNT Sports. Elsewhere, the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Sacramento Kings to reach the last four.
'Crazy' - Haliburton on Pacers triumph over Celtics and his first triple-double
Tyrese Haliburton secured a career-first triple-double as the Indiana Pacers beat the Boston Celtics to the NBA In-Season Tournament semi-finals, while the New Orleans Pelicans overcame the Sacramento Kings to reach the last four.
Haliburton starred as the Pacers stunned the Eastern Conference leaders 122-112 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The 23-year-old scored 26 points with 10 rebounds and 13 assists during a closely fought encounter, which the Pacers edged, helped by a late 9-0 scoring run with less than two minutes on the clock.
“The atmosphere was crazy! Our fans were amazing,” Haliburton told TNT Sports after the victory. “It was a lot of fun, I loved this.”
On how the defence turned the game around in the third quarter, he added: “For sure. I was doing an awful job in the first half, I was getting attacked, I couldn’t breathe. I hit the inhaler at half-time!
“But I figured it out, the team figured it out. I had a lot of support behind me. The coach did a great job to draw some different things up to give them some different looks, and we were able to get the win tonight.”
In addition to Haliburton’s inspired performance, Buddy Hield contributed 21 points as seven Pacers players made double figures in the statement win.
The Pacers will face either the New York Knicks or the Milwaukee Bucks for a spot in the first NBA In-Season Tournament Final, which will be held in Las Vegas.
“Our expectation is to win,” Haliburton continued as the Pacers bid to win the opening edition of the tournament. “We’re a young, hungry group and we want to win every night.
“We’re excited to be there, but we’re not just complacent being there. We want to win.”
The Pacers were made to work for their victory after a dominant first half from the Boston side.
Jayson Taytum scored 32 points with 12 rebounds while Jaylen Brown contributed a further 30 points and nine rebounds.
But the momentum quickly shifted into the Pacers’ favour thanks to an inspired Haliburton, who made eight points in the opening four minutes of the third quarter as the Pacers went on to clinch the game.
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NBA Top 10 plays: Haliburton comes up clutch with first triple-double of career
Elsewhere, the Pelicans also had to come from behind to secure a spot in the last four. They overcame the Kings for the third time this season, winning 127-117 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
After battling back from a 15-point deficit in the first quarter to lead 69-61 at half-time, the Pelicans managed to hold on for the win, which is something they’ve struggled to achieve this season.
“Execution, it came down to getting defensive stops,” Brandon Ingram told TNT Sports on the Pelicans comeback win. “Trying to slow down [De'Aaron] Fox and trying to slow down [Domantas] Sabonis and rebound the basketball.
“JV [Jonas Valanciunas] had a huge task today, trying to box out Sabonis and we all had to come in and rebound the basketball and try and push the transition and get the best shot.”
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'It's a luxury to have' - Ingram praises Pelicans depth after victory over Kings
Trey Murphy and Jose Alvarado helped to turn the game around for the Pelicans after a slow start and Ingram praised his team’s depth which helped lead them to victory.
“It’s a luxury to have, having Murphy and Jose back, they bring energy to our team,” he said. “Also, Naji Marshall pushing the pace in transition.
“It’s a luxury to have really, really talented guys on the floor. They can come on the floor and make an impact.”
The Pelicans will play either the Los Angeles Lakers or the Phoenix Suns for a spot in Friday’s final.
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