Haliburton, Pacers defeat Bucks 128-119 to advance to NBA In-Season Tornament Final

Haliburton contributed 27 points and 15 assists, propelling the Indiana Pacers to a 128-119 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, securing their spot in the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament championship game. The Pacers will face the winner of the second semifinal between the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.

“We’re playing the right way and we’re shocking the world right now. We’re going to continue to do that,” remarked Haliburton. “As long as we play the right way, we know we’re going to be in every basketball game.”

Myles Turner added 26 points for Indiana, with Obi Toppin contributing 14 on 6-of-8 shooting, Isaiah Jackson adding 11, and Bruce Brown securing 10. Indiana's remarkable tournament performance includes an average of 132.6 points, reflecting their overall season average of 128.3.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 37 points with 10 rebounds for Milwaukee, while Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez also made substantial contributions. Notably, Indiana’s reserves outscored Milwaukee’s bench 43-13, making a decisive impact.

Coach Rick Carlisle emphasized the bench's pivotal role, stating, “Our bench really was the difference in today’s game. If you look at the plus-minus, it’s pretty obvious that those guys played a major role.”

In the final quarter, the Pacers opened with a 14-8 run, securing a 105-102 lead and ultimately finishing with a 21-13 run. Despite the Bucks' previous high-scoring performance, they struggled in this game, making 12 of 33 3-pointers and 43 of 96 overall from the field.

The Pacers advance to the tournament title game on Saturday night in Las Vegas, facing either the Lakers or Pelicans, while the Bucks will host Chicago on Monday night.