Scoreboard
Pacers 122, Celtics 112
Pelicans 127, Kings 117
What went down
The knockout round of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament kicked off with the Pacers and Pelicans advancing to the semifinals. The two teams fly to Las Vegas with the hopes of winning the first-ever NBA Cup.
Tyrese Haliburton rose to the occasion as he recorded his first-ever career triple-double, helping the Pacers stun the Celtics. Haliburton tallied 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists, plus converted on a tiebreaking four-point play with 1:33 left.
Seven Pacers finished in double-figures as they remain undefeated in the tournament after a 4-0 record in group play. They will face the winner between the Bucks and Knicks.
In the other quarterfinal game, the Pelicans leaned on a 30-point performance from Brandon Ingram to topple the Kings. Herb Jones also had a solid outing, contributing 23 points.
Sacramento had the lead the entire first quarter before a shift in momentum in the succeeding periods. The Pelicans outscored the Kings, 34-25, in the second frame and never relinquished the lead.
The Pelicans will take on either the Lakers or Suns in their next game.
Big-time baller
Tyrese Haliburton continues to turn heads with his all-around play. This time, he performed on the national stage, helping the Pacers not only beat one of the top teams in the East but also reach the next phase of the knockout round. His full stat line read 26 points on 10-for-18 shooting, five triples, 10 rebounds, 13 assists, and zero turnovers.
He is only the third player to record 25-plus points, 10-plus rebounds, and 10-plus assists with no turnovers for a player 23 years old or younger. He joins Nikola Jokic and Grant Hill.
What he said
Here’s what Haliburton had to say after the Pacers advanced to the semifinals:
"It really means the world to me to have the opportunity to represent Indiana and this storied organization."
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
Tyrese Haliburton on getting "MVP" chants in the Pacers' In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals W pic.twitter.com/HvBuzjadki
Check out the intricate details of the first-ever NBA Cup:
Inside the stories and details that make up the NBA Cup 👀
— NBA (@NBA) December 4, 2023
The In-Season Tournament championship quest continues with the quarterfinals, tonight at 7:30pm/et on TNT! pic.twitter.com/7udosw6NHs
Extra Pass
Quarterfinals action continues tomorrow in another double-header.
It’ll be the Knicks taking on the Bucks at 8:30 AM on NBA League Pass followed by the Suns and the Lakers at 11:00 AM on NBA TV Philippines.
The semifinals cast will be complete following tomorrow’s games as the tournament shifts to Las Vegas.
A trophy and bragging rights are not only the things that the teams will be playing for. All players from the eight teams in the quarterfinals are already $50,000 richer for reaching the knockout stage. Each player then gets $100,000 for reaching the semis, $200,000 for making the championship match, and $500,000 for winning it all. Two-way players only get half compared to players on standard contracts but that’s still a whole lot to play for.
