America, meet Tyrese Haliburton.

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

Why it matters: Indiana advanced to the semifinals of the NBA's In-Season Tournament and will play the winner of tonight's Knicks-Bucks game 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 last night'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.

💭 James' 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.

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👋 James here, to talk about doughnuts.

"I had no idea this was here," a fellow customer says, surveying the powdered landscape at Parlor Doughnuts.

Driving the news: Parlor Doughnuts has been here — at 805 W. 10th St., adjacent to IUPUI — since August, yet has gained relatively little fanfare. Now it's in expansion mode, eyeying Fishers, Zionsville and Greenwood for future locations.

Why it matters: These are some of the best doughnuts in town — and also different from most options.

Between the lines: Parlor Doughnuts' dispenses with the pretense that a doughnut is a legitimate breakfast, leaving no doubt you are consuming a luxurious, overstuffed pastry fit to be served as dessert in a bougie restaurant.

• If it happens to be morning when you eat a strawberry shortcake or bourbon caramel doughnut, then so be it.

Zoom in: The most popular doughnuts are "sandy beach," which tastes like a cinnamon roll, and French toast, which tastes like … well, that one's obvious.

• I tried the specialty holiday custard, filled with eggnog, and blueberry hill, which tasted like an extra-sweet pancake.

Of note: Parlor offers slightly more savory fare, including a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich (the default serving comes on an unglazed doughnut), spinach pesto and breakfast tacos.

• It also offers typical cafe beverages, including a serviceable almond milk latte that I drank.

Context: Parlor Doughnuts began as an Evansville shop in 2019 and has expanded to dozens of franchised locations across 15 states.

• This is the first Indianapolis shop.

🚨 The body-worn camera of an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer who shot a man in October did not record the incident, the department said after releasing edited footage from another officer and a security camera.

• According to the department, the camera did not automatically activate as it should. (WFYI)

🐶 Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine has joined a national effort to identify a respiratory illness affecting dogs in multiple states, including Indiana. The cause of the illness, which has led to pneumonia or even death in some cases, hasn't been identified. (IndyStar)

🏈 Gggggggggo Irish! No. 15 Notre Dame will face No. 21 Oregon State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, 2pm Dec. 29 on CBS. (CBS4)

Indiana's birth rate fell dramatically between 2007 and 2022, dropping from 14.1 births per 1,000 people to 11.7, Axios Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report based on new CDC data.

Why it matters: Outside the fast-growing Indianapolis area, most of the state is experiencing population loss.

By the numbers: Three-quarters of Indiana counties recorded more deaths than births last year, per an IU analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.

What they're saying: "Due largely to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of deaths in Indiana remained exceptionally high in 2022," Matt Kinghorn, senior demographer at the Indiana Business Research Center, said in his analysis.

• "Add in another year with relatively low fertility rates, and there were only 1,024 more births than deaths in the state last year."

💭 James' thought bubble: I'm happy to contribute to Indiana's future with the birth of my daughter, Meredith, in May.

• However, population growth will be up to everyone else from here on out because two kids are plenty for our household.

Zoom out: The nationwide birth rate dropped from 14.3 births per 1,000 people to 11.1, or nearly 23%, from 2007 to 2002.

'Tis the season for dark beers — malty porters, spiced stouts and everything nice to warm you up on a cold winter eve.

There may be nowhere better to belly up to the bar this time of year than St. Joseph Brewery and Public House.

• The Mass Ave-adjacent brewery is housed in a former Catholic church.
• The first Mass in the sanctuary was celebrated in 1880.
• There's no doubt about the building's first use — the bar and restaurant kept the gorgeous vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Brew of the week: St. Nick's Baltic Porter, 7.6% ABV.

• It's dark without feeling super heavy, malty and a little fruity.

Cost: $6.50 for a pint

If you go: 540 N. College Ave.

• Open 11am to 10pm Monday-Thursday, 11am to 11pm Friday and Saturday and 10am to 10pm Sunday.