After the Indiana Pacers’ surprising run in the second round of the playoffs, they took home court advantage away from their building mates, the New York Knicks. The Pacers came into the series as the No. 4 seed and proved their amazing depth and skill. All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton shined in a way that took everyone by storm.
In a game that would ultimately end the series, it was Haliburton who dazzled brightest. He scored 22 points and had 13 assists, while adding in three majestic blocks. His all-around performance carried his team to victory. He re-ignited the Pacers’ defense with a huge steal that he turned into a dunk. The game marked a significant transition in competition for the Pacers, who are now facing a higher level of challenge compared to their previous series against the Miami Heat.
The Pacers were ridiculously efficient from the field, especially on high percentage looks like threes. Its benefits were felt offensively as well, where they took advantage of Haliburton’s playmaking instantly, knocking down 7 of 12 (58%) three-pointers that were assisted from him. As a team, the Mavs hit 19 threes over the course of the game, the second most in franchise playoff history. Their shooting ability wasn’t the leading factor in consistently generating open looks. They did an awesome job of taking advantage and turning those opportunities into points.
Beyond Haliburton’s scoring, the Pacers’ offense was impressive as a whole, with six different players reaching double-digit scoring. This depth provided them the firepower to keep the pressure on the Knicks for the entirety of the game and ride it to a much-needed win.
Moving forward, the Indiana Pacers will look ahead to Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Pictured Above: Tyrese Haliburton guarding Donovan Mitchell in the Cavaliers last game against the Pacers, a 121-112 Cavaliers win. The deciding Game 5 comes Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET, airing on TNT.
With the Pacers now facing a formidable opponent in the Cavaliers, they aim to build on their momentum from Game 1. As they prepare for this crucial matchup, Haliburton’s performance will be key in determining whether the Pacers can continue their playoff run and advance further in the tournament.
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