Tyrese Haliburton drives for two of his 27 points against the Milwaukee Bucks. Photo: Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images
The Indiana Pacers are playing for a championship — a brand-new December trophy, sure, but a championship nonetheless.
Driving the news: Indiana slayed another one of the NBA's best teams, beating the Milwaukee Bucks, 128-119, Thursday in Las Vegas.
Why it matters: The Pacers advanced to the NBA In-Season Tournament final.
State of play: The Pacers (12-8) played one of their most resilient games yet.
- They led 63-51 at halftime, but the Bucks (15-7) went on an 11-point run midway through the third quarter, taking the lead — and momentum.
- Indiana kept it close and Tyrese Haliburton shined late, making an acrobatic layup and then hitting a dagger of a 3-pointer that gave the Pacers a 122-114 lead with 48 seconds left.
By the numbers: Haliburton had 27 points and 15 assists and Myles Turner had 26 points and 10 rebounds.
- Haliburton has zero turnovers in the last two games.
What they're saying: "They tell me we're not supposed to be here. I guess they're not right," Haliburton said after the game.
What's next: The Pacers play the Los Angeles Lakers at 8:30pm Saturday in Las Vegas.
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