Pacers beat Bucks 128-119 to advance to face Lakers in NBA In-Season Tournament final
LAS VEGAS (AP) Tyrese Haliburton hit his third 3-pointer with less than a minute left, pounded his chest, and looked down at his wrist to let everyone know one thing: “It’s our time!”
Haliburton had 27 points and 15 assists and the Indiana Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 128-119 on Thursday night to advance to the championship game in the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament.
The Pacers will face the Los Angeles Lakers for the title Saturday night. The Lakers routed New Orleans 133-89 in the second semifinal.
“We’re playing the right way and we’re shocking the world right now, we’re going to continue to do that,” Haliburton said. "And 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. Obi Toppin had 14 on 6-of-8 shooting, Isaiah Jackson chipped in 11 and Bruce Brown had 10.
Indiana is averaging a whopping 132.6 points during the tournament. Overall, they are averaging 128.3 this season - 131.7 over the last 14 games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points and 10 rebounds for Milwaukee. Damian Lillard added 24 points, Khris Middleton had 20 and Brook Lopez 18.
Most important, however, was Indiana’s reserves outscoring Milwaukee’s backups 43-13. Indiana’s bench was a combined plus-62, while Milwaukee’s reserves were minus-46.
“Yeah, our bench really was the difference in today’s game,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. “If you look at the plus-minus, it’s pretty obvious that those guys played a major role.”
It was most evident in the second quarter, when Bennedict Mathurtin and T.J. McConnell came into the game with the Pacers trailing by two, and sparked a 16-7 run that gave Indiana 43-36 lead while setting the tone for the starters as they eased back into the lineup.
“I know a lot of people don’t watch us play all the time, but we truly have one of the best benches in the NBA, if not the best bench in the NBA,” Haliburton said. “We’re a really deep team with a lot of different guys who can contribute. I’m sure we’ve got a lot of guys that people aren’t really familiar with, but they’ll be familiar all too soon, for sure.”
Down three after three quarters, the Pacers opened the fourth with a 14-8 run to take a 105-102 lead. Turner, Brown and Haliburton accounted for 17 points during a game-ending 21-13 run.
After scoring a season-high 146 points and making 23 of 38 3-pointers in a quarterfinal victory over New York, the Bucks were 12 of 33 on 3s and 43 of 96 overall from the field.
“We’ve got to close it out in the fourth quarter, which is something we’ve done very well, we just couldn’t pull it off tonight,” Milwaukee coach Adrian Griffin said. “It’s not the outcome that we wanted but we made it to Vegas and we got to experience this. And I think it’s going to do wonders for our team. You always learn in wins and you learn in losses.”
UP NEXT
Pacers: Tournament title game Saturday night in Las Vegas against the Lakers.
Bucks: Host Chicago on Monday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Myles Turner vs. Brook Lopez (Giannis Antetokounmpo gains possession) | |||
11:44 | Damian Lillard misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
11:39 | Brook Lopez offensive rebound | |||
11:35 | Brook Lopez misses two point jump shot | |||
11:31 | Buddy Hield defensive rebound | |||
11:19 | +2 | Obi Toppin makes two point alley-oop layup (Myles Turner assists) | 2-0 | |
11:07 | Malik Beasley misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:03 | Buddy Hield defensive rebound | |||
10:58 | Obi Toppin misses three point running jump shot | |||
10:56 | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | |||
10:42 | Damian Lillard misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
10:38 | Tyrese Haliburton defensive rebound | |||
10:20 | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point driving finger roll layup | 4-0 | |
9:57 | +3 | Brook Lopez makes three point jump shot (Damian Lillard assists) | 4-3 | |
9:41 | Brook Lopez blocks Myles Turner's two point driving layup | |||
9:38 | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | |||
9:31 | +3 | Brook Lopez makes three point jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 4-6 | |
9:10 | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point cutting dunk (Buddy Hield assists) | 6-6 | |
9:00 | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 6-8 | |
8:49 | Buddy Hield misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
8:46 | Damian Lillard defensive rebound | |||
8:37 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point driving finger roll layup | 6-10 | |
8:37 | Myles Turner shooting foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | |||
8:37 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
8:35 | Obi Toppin defensive rebound | |||
8:26 | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point driving finger roll layup (Bruce Brown assists) | 8-10 | |
8:10 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point driving layup | 8-12 | |
7:59 | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 10-12 | |
7:42 | Obi Toppin shooting foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | |||
7:42 | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-13 | |
7:42 | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-14 | |
7:36 | Myles Turner misses three point jump shot | |||
7:33 | Khris Middleton defensive rebound | |||
7:26 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point alley-oop dunk (Khris Middleton assists) | 10-16 | |
7:13 | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point driving finger roll layup | 12-16 | |
7:04 | +3 | Khris Middleton makes three point pullup jump shot | 12-19 | |
7:03 | Pacers 60 second timeout | |||
6:40 | +2 | Bruce Brown makes two point pullup jump shot (Myles Turner assists) | 14-19 | |
6:19 | Brook Lopez misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
6:14 | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | |||
6:06 | +3 | Myles Turner makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 17-19 | |
5:50 | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point driving floating jump shot | 17-21 | |
5:39 | Malik Beasley shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | |||
5:39 | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-21 | |
5:39 | Myles Turner misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
5:37 | MarJon Beauchamp defensive rebound | |||
5:15 | +2 | Malik Beasley makes two point driving finger roll layup | 18-23 | |
5:01 | Damian Lillard blocks Bruce Brown's two point pullup jump shot | |||
5:01 | Pacers offensive rebound | |||
4:56 | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point cutting dunk (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 20-23 | |
4:45 | Brook Lopez misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:42 | Bobby Portis offensive rebound | |||
4:41 | Bobby Portis misses two point floating jump shot | |||
4:39 | Aaron Nesmith defensive rebound | |||
4:30 | Brook Lopez blocks Tyrese Haliburton's two point driving floating jump shot | |||
4:26 | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | |||
4:18 | Myles Turner blocks MarJon Beauchamp's two point driving layup | |||
4:15 | Myles Turner defensive rebound | |||
4:13 | Bennedict Mathurin turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
4:13 | Bucks 60 second timeout | |||
4:04 | Andrew Nembhard blocks Damian Lillard's two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:01 | Tyrese Haliburton defensive rebound | |||
3:46 | Aaron Nesmith misses three point jump shot | |||
3:43 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
3:32 | Giannis Antetokounmpo turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
3:26 | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point cutting layup (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 22-23 | |
3:26 | Bobby Portis shooting foul (Isaiah Jackson draws the foul) | |||
3:26 | +1 | Isaiah Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 23-23 | |
3:08 | +2 | MarJon Beauchamp makes two point cutting layup (Damian Lillard assists) | 23-25 | |
2:53 | Isaiah Jackson misses two point layup | |||
2:53 | Bucks defensive rebound | |||
2:36 | Damian Lillard misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
2:32 | MarJon Beauchamp offensive rebound | |||
2:28 | +2 | MarJon Beauchamp makes two point putback layup | 23-27 | |
2:14 | Bobby Portis blocks Aaron Nesmith's two point driving layup | |||
2:13 | Pacers offensive rebound | |||
2:06 | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
2:02 | Buddy Hield offensive rebound | |||
2:01 | Buddy Hield misses three point jump shot | |||
1:59 | Bucks defensive rebound | |||
1:49 | Aaron Nesmith shooting foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | |||
1:49 | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-28 | |
1:49 | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-29 | |
1:35 | T.J. McConnell misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
1:32 | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | |||
1:24 | Bobby Portis misses three point jump shot | |||
1:21 | Buddy Hield defensive rebound | |||
1:17 | Aaron Nesmith misses three point running jump shot | |||
1:12 | Damian Lillard defensive rebound | |||
1:09 | Damian Lillard misses two point running reverse layup | |||
1:06 | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | |||
0:49 | +2 | Buddy Hield makes two point driving finger roll layup (T.J. McConnell assists) | 25-29 | |
0:34 | AJ Green misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:31 | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | |||
0:17 | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point pullup jump shot | 27-29 | |
0:00 | Damian Lillard misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
0:00 | Bucks offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:45 | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point floating jump shot | |||
11:42 | Bennedict Mathurin offensive rebound | |||
11:42 | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point tip layup | |||
11:42 | Bennedict Mathurin offensive rebound | |||
11:42 | Khris Middleton shooting foul (Bennedict Mathurin draws the foul) | |||
11:42 | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-29 | |
11:42 | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-29 | |
11:22 | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point turnaround bank hook shot | 29-31 | |
11:03 | MarJon Beauchamp blocks Bennedict Mathurin's two point driving layup | |||
11:00 | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | |||
10:54 | Bobby Portis misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
10:50 | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | |||
10:46 | Khris Middleton shooting foul (T.J. McConnell draws the foul) | |||
10:46 | +1 | T.J. McConnell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-31 | |
10:46 | T.J. McConnell misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
10:43 | MarJon Beauchamp defensive rebound | |||
10:31 | Khris Middleton turnover (bad pass) (T.J. McConnell steals) | |||
10:26 | Giannis Antetokounmpo blocks Bennedict Mathurin's two point running layup | |||
10:25 | Pacers offensive rebound | |||
10:19 | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point layup | 32-31 | |
10:03 | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:01 | Brook Lopez offensive rebound | |||
10:00 | Buddy Hield shooting foul (Brook Lopez draws the foul) | |||
10:00 | +1 | Brook Lopez makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-32 | |
10:00 | Brook Lopez misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
9:59 | Pacers defensive rebound | |||
9:47 | Bennedict Mathurin turnover (traveling) | |||
9:35 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point driving dunk (Cameron Payne assists) | 32-34 | |
9:27 | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 34-34 | |
9:14 | Brook Lopez offensive foul (Charge) (Aaron Nesmith draws the foul) | |||
9:14 | Brook Lopez turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:06 | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point driving reverse layup | 36-34 | |
8:54 | Cameron Payne misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
8:53 | Pacers defensive rebound | |||
8:53 | Brook Lopez personal foul (Loose ball) (T.J. McConnell draws the foul) | |||
8:42 | Buddy Hield misses three point jump shot | |||
8:38 | Khris Middleton defensive rebound | |||
8:30 | Khris Middleton turnover (bad pass) (T.J. McConnell steals) | |||
8:27 | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point running dunk (T.J. McConnell assists) | 38-34 | |
8:27 | Bucks 60 second timeout | |||
8:15 | Malik Beasley misses three point jump shot | |||
8:11 | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | |||
8:08 | Isaiah Jackson turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
8:02 | Khris Middleton misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
7:58 | Bruce Brown defensive rebound | |||
7:52 | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point turnaround jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 40-34 | |
7:44 | Khris Middleton turnover (lost ball) (T.J. McConnell steals) | |||
7:37 | Andre Jackson Jr. personal foul (T.J. McConnell draws the foul) | |||
7:29 | T.J. McConnell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:26 | Khris Middleton defensive rebound | |||
7:15 | +2 | Brook Lopez makes two point driving layup (Damian Lillard assists) | 40-36 | |
6:56 | Damian Lillard shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | |||