NBA IST: Pacers & Pelicans Prevail

12/05/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Pacers Top Celtics (122-112) & Pelicans Beat Kings (127-117) in 1st NBA In-Season Tournament Knockout Games

Survive and advance! The first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament continues to be a success, and last night’s knockout games were no exception. The atmosphere felt playoff-esque, and the energy looked better than typical December regular-season games. Our first two teams are through the semifinals, and we’ll find out who joins them tonight.

East: Pacers def. Celtics (122-112)

Tyrese Haliburton and the high-speed Pacers kept their early-season race car rolling with a knockout punch to the Celtics Monday night in Indianapolis. Indiana used a huge third-quarter stretch (37-19 run) to flip the scoreboard before closing it out in the 4th. The game was tied 105-105 with 1:33 left, but a four-point play from Haliburton ignited a 9-0 run in just 45 seconds. Haliburton notched his first career triple-double (26-13-10), and the Pacers await the winner of the Knicks-Bucks clash tonight.

Stats

T. Haliburton (IND): 26 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds

J. Tatum (BOS): 32 points, 6 assists, 12 rebounds

J. Brown (BOS): 30 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks

West: Pelicans def. Kings (127-117)

Remember how good the Pelicans were last season when they were healthy? They’re showing glimpses of it again in the early stages of this season. New Orleans went into Sacramento and survived a 30-ball from De’Aaron Fox and a triple-double from Domantas Sabonis (26-13-10) to move on to the semifinals. The Pels took a double-digit lead in the 2nd quarter and held the Kings at arm’s length throughout. Zion Williamson (10 points) was held in check, but Brandon Ingram (30-8-6) had the hot hand. New Orleans will get the winner of tonight’s Suns-Lakers clash.

Stats

B. Ingram (NO): 30 points, 6 assists, 8 rebounds

D. Fox (SAC): 30 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds

D. Sabonis (SAC): 26 points, 10 assists, 13 rebounds

Tonight’s Schedule (In-Season Tournament)

East: Knicks at Bucks (7:30 pm ET, TNT)

West: Suns at Lakers (10:00 pm ET, TNT)

SI: Pacers’ Buddy Hield Found Perfect Way to Rub In Win Over Celtics With Pettiest Buzzer-Beater

AP: Brandon Ingram Leads Pelicans Past Kings to Advance Ito IST Semis

Photo: Dylan Buell / Getty Images