Pacers bring back playoff vibes in win over Celtics

America, meet Tyrese Haliburton.

Driving the news: Haliburton propelled the Pacers to a 122-112 win over the Celtics on Monday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Why it matters: Indiana advanced to the semifinals of the NBA's In-Season Tournament and will play the winner of Tuesday night's Knicks-Bucks game on Thursday in Las Vegas.

Between the lines: The Pacers (11-8) made a statement on national TV by toppling the Celtics (15-5), who had the NBA's best record entering the game.

• It's perhaps the Pacers' most impressive win in years, in front of the loudest crowd in recent memory.

Flashback: The Celtics crushed the Pacers, 155-104, Nov. 1.

State of play: Indiana trailed for much of Monday's game, too, yet remained competitive at halftime, down 55-48.

• The teams traded scoring runs in the second half before the Pacers took over.
• Haliburton drew a foul while hitting a 3-pointer with 1:33 left, completing a four-point play that gave Indiana the lead for good as nearly 17,000 people rained down chants of "MVP!"

By the numbers: Haliburton had his first career triple-double with 26 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds.

• Six other Pacers scored at least 12 points, including Buddy Hield, who had 21.

💭 My thought bubble: The In-Season Tournament has made us care — deeply! — about November and early-December NBA games.

• It's time to admit this is a lot of fun.

The bottom line: Haliburton is becoming an elite star as the Pacers compete to win the first-ever NBA Cup.