Indiana Pacers secure quarterfinal spot with Tyrese Haliburton's masterclass against Atlanta Hawks

NEW DELHI: Tyrese Haliburton led the Indiana Pacers to a stunning 157-152 comeback victory over the Atlanta Hawks in an NBA in-season tournament game. Haliburton, who bounced back from a season-low 12 points in the previous game, exploded for 37 points, including 26 in the third quarter alone. He shot 11-for-18 from the floor and made 9-of-15 3-point attempts, contributing 16 assists and five rebounds.
The Pacers improved to 3-0 in East Group A, securing a spot in the quarterfinal knockout round of the in-season tournament. Buddy Hield's crucial 3-pointer with 53 seconds left secured the victory for Indiana.

Hield had an impressive performance, scoring 24 points and going 6-for-6 from beyond the arc. Obi Toppin added 21 points for the Pacers in the high-scoring affair.
Despite a franchise-record first-half performance by the Hawks, who led 86-73 at halftime, the Pacers mounted a comeback. Atlanta, led by Bogdan Bogdanovic's 22 points, shot exceptionally well in the first half, hitting 62.3% of field goals and 55.6% from 3-point range.
Trae Young led the Hawks with 38 points and eight assists, while Dejounte Murray contributed 28 points. Bogdanovic finished with 26 points. However, Atlanta has now lost three straight games overall and four consecutive games at home.

The game featured intense back-and-forth action, with Indiana overcoming a 20-point deficit. Haliburton's explosive third quarter ignited the Pacers' comeback, and they secured the victory in a tightly contested contest.
(With Reuters inputs)