Pacers Outlast Celtics To Advance
By Dan Bruno
The Indiana Pacers defeated the visiting Boston Celtics, 122-112, in the NBA In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday evening.
The game got out to a competitive start, as the Pacers led for most of the first quarter, before the Celtics grabbed a two-point advantage heading into the second. Both sides kept battling in the second but after a few lead changes, the Celtics pulled away for a, 55-48, lead at the break. The Pacers turned it up a notch in the third and outscored the visitors, 37-23, in the third, claiming a seven-point lead entering the final frame. The hosts hung on to their lead to start the quarter, but the Celtics kept pushing and regained the lead with 5:46 left on the clock. After a couple of lead changes the score was tied at 103, with under three minutes to go, when the Pacers closed on a, 19-9, run to close out their second straight win and advance to the In-Season Tournament Semi-Finals.
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists and a steal, in 40 minutes. Buddy Hield followed up with 21 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Myles Turner delivered 17 points, 10 rebounds, a steal and a block.
Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 32 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and a steal, in 37 minutes. Jaylen Brown followed up with 30 points, nine rebounds, a steal and two blocks, while Derrick White totaled 18 points, four rebounds, eight assists, a steal and a block.
The Celtics (15-5) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Cavaliers next Tuesday. The Pacers (11-8) take on the Pistons in Detroit on Monday.
The game got out to a competitive start, as the Pacers led for most of the first quarter, before the Celtics grabbed a two-point advantage heading into the second. Both sides kept battling in the second but after a few lead changes, the Celtics pulled away for a, 55-48, lead at the break. The Pacers turned it up a notch in the third and outscored the visitors, 37-23, in the third, claiming a seven-point lead entering the final frame. The hosts hung on to their lead to start the quarter, but the Celtics kept pushing and regained the lead with 5:46 left on the clock. After a couple of lead changes the score was tied at 103, with under three minutes to go, when the Pacers closed on a, 19-9, run to close out their second straight win and advance to the In-Season Tournament Semi-Finals.
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists and a steal, in 40 minutes. Buddy Hield followed up with 21 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Myles Turner delivered 17 points, 10 rebounds, a steal and a block.
Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 32 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and a steal, in 37 minutes. Jaylen Brown followed up with 30 points, nine rebounds, a steal and two blocks, while Derrick White totaled 18 points, four rebounds, eight assists, a steal and a block.
The Celtics (15-5) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Cavaliers next Tuesday. The Pacers (11-8) take on the Pistons in Detroit on Monday.
Pelicans Upend Kings, 127-117
The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Sacramento Kings, 127-117, at Golden 1 Arena in an In-Season Tournament Knockout Round game Monday night. The Pelicans advance to face the winner of the Suns-Lakers quarterfinal-round game Tuesday in Las Vegas on Thursday.
The Pelicans (12-10) and Kings (11-8) both came out of the locker room with a hot hand offensively, with Sacramento jumping out to a 32-17 lead while draining 12 of their first 14 shots before New Orleans countered with a 28-5 run over the rest of the first and part of the second quarter that eventually led to an eight-point halftime advantage. The visitors were then one point better than their hosts during the third quarter to take a nine-point edge going into the final period on the way to the 10-point victory.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 30 points, adding eight rebounds, six assists and one steal. Herbert Jones furnished 23 points, five boards, five assists and two blocks. Jonas Valanciunas generated an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double. CJ McCollum supplied 17 points, seven assists, two rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Trey Murphy netted 16 points. Zion Williamson registered 10 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals.
De'Aaron Fox paced the Kings with 30 points, complementing them with five rebounds, four assists and one steal. Domantas Sabonis produced a 26-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist triple-double that included two steals and one block. Malik Monk delivered 21 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Keegan Murray turned in 14 points, four rebounds and one assist, while Kevin Huerter posted 12 points, five boards and two assists.
The Pelicans (12-10) and Kings (11-8) both came out of the locker room with a hot hand offensively, with Sacramento jumping out to a 32-17 lead while draining 12 of their first 14 shots before New Orleans countered with a 28-5 run over the rest of the first and part of the second quarter that eventually led to an eight-point halftime advantage. The visitors were then one point better than their hosts during the third quarter to take a nine-point edge going into the final period on the way to the 10-point victory.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 30 points, adding eight rebounds, six assists and one steal. Herbert Jones furnished 23 points, five boards, five assists and two blocks. Jonas Valanciunas generated an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double. CJ McCollum supplied 17 points, seven assists, two rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Trey Murphy netted 16 points. Zion Williamson registered 10 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals.
De'Aaron Fox paced the Kings with 30 points, complementing them with five rebounds, four assists and one steal. Domantas Sabonis produced a 26-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist triple-double that included two steals and one block. Malik Monk delivered 21 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Keegan Murray turned in 14 points, four rebounds and one assist, while Kevin Huerter posted 12 points, five boards and two assists.