All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton recorded the first triple-double of his career and completed a tiebreaking four-point play with 1:33 left as the surprising Indiana Pacers ousted the Boston Celtics from the NBA In-Season Tournament with a 122-112 quarter-final victory on Monday night.
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Haliburton finished with 26 points, 16 in the second half, to go with 13 assists and 10 rebounds. Myles Turner added 17 points and 10 rebounds, and seven Pacers finished in double figures as Indiana remained unbeaten in the tournament after finishing group play with a 4-0 mark.
The Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum’s 32 points and 12 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown had 30 points and nine rebounds. All-Star Kristaps Porzingis missed his fourth straight game with a strained left calf as Boston’s three-game winning streak ended thanks to a late 9-0 Pacers run, which began with Haliburton’s basket.
In Monday’s other quarter-final, Brandon Ingram scored 30 points and New Orleans beat Sacramento. Ingram helped New Orleans erase an early deficit and the Pelicans never trailed in the second half as they advanced.
Herb Jones added 23 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 18 to give the Pelicans their third win over Sacramento in the past two weeks.
De’Aaron Fox scored 30 points and Domantas Sabonis added 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the Kings. Sacramento lost for the first time in the tournament after sweeping all four games in group play.
The Pacers will face Milwaukee or New York in Thursday’s semi-finals in Las Vegas. The Pelicans will play the winner of Tuesday night’s game between Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers.