INDIANA Pacers made its way to the NBA In-Season Tournament Finals after a 128-119 beating of Milwaukee Bucks in the semifinals on Thursday night (Friday morning in the Philippines) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Tyrese Haliburton finished with 27 points, 15 assists, and seven rebounds, while Myles Turner also had a double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers.
Obi Toppin, Isaiah Jackson, and Bruce Brown also hit double-digits on offense with 14, 11, and 10 markers, respectively, while Buddy Hield hauled 11 rebounds to go with eight points for Indiana.
Trailing for most part of the first quarter, the Pacers went on a huge run in the second frame behind TJ McConnell, Toppin, and Turner as they established a 63-51 halftime lead.
The Bucks countered with a run in the third frame behind Damian Lillard as they took a 94-91 advantage, but the Pacers kept the match close in the fourth frame as they trail 106-105.
The Pacers then turned things around with conversions from Brown, Turner, Haliburton, and Hield as they established a 126-116 lead with under a minute left.
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with a double-double of 37 points and 10 rebounds, Lillard added 24 markers, while Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez contributed 20 and 18, respectively, for the Bucks.
Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, secure the last championship spot following a domination of New Orleans Pelicans in the other knockout semifinals match.
LeBron James led the way with 30 points, eight assists, and five rebounds, Austin Reaves added 17 markers, while Anthony Davis, Taurean Prince, DAngelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura added 16, 15, 14, and 12, respectively.
The Pacers and the Lakers will face each other in a knockout championship match slated on Saturday night (Sunday morning in the Philippines) at the same venue./PN
BOX SCORE:
INDIANA 128 — Haliburton 27, Turner 26, Toppin 14, Jackson 11, Brown 10, McConnell 9, Mathurin 9, Nembhard 8, Hield 8, Nesmith 6.
MILWAUKEE 119 — G. Antetokounmpo 37, Lillard 24, Middleton 20, B. Lopez 18, Beasley 7, Beauchamp 5, Payne 4, Portis 4, Green 0, Jackson 0.
Quarterscores: 27-29, 63-51, 91-94, 128-119.
