The Indiana Pacers made history on Tuesday, becoming the first team to secure a spot in the knockout stage of the NBA’s new in-season tournament with a thrilling 157-152 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Let’s dive in to find details about it.
Indiana Pacers Outshoot Atlanta Hawks
In a game filled with high-scoring runs and dramatic finishes, it was the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield who led the charge. Haliburton’s 37 points, including 22 in the third quarter, and 16 assists were instrumental in the Pacers’ comeback from a 20-point deficit. Hield, on the other hand, stepped up in the fourth quarter with 13 of his 24 points, ultimately hitting the game-winning three-pointer with less than a minute remaining.
The Pacers’ victory not only secured their place in the knockout stage, but also gave them first place in East’s Group A. Haliburton, who had previously expressed excitement about the tournament’s added intensity, praised Hield for his clutch performance down the stretch. Hield’s nine of 11 shooting and perfect six for six from beyond the arc solidified his role as a key player in the Pacers’ triumph.
In other tournament action, the Los Angeles Lakers had the opportunity to secure their spot in the knockout rounds and claim home court advantage with a win over the Utah Jazz. However, the Jazz had different plans and pulled off a road victory, leaving the Lakers to battle it out in the quarter-finals. The quarter-finals will take place on December 4-5, with the winners advancing to the semi-finals on December 7 and the championship match on December 9 in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers kept their hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds alive with a thrilling 122-119 overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Darius Garland led the way for the Cavs with 32 points, while Jarrett Allen and Max Strus also had impressive performances. Despite the 76ers’ Joel Embiid’s 32 points and 13 rebounds, the team was eliminated from tournament contention.
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With the knockout rounds just around the corner, the competition is heating up and fans can expect more thrilling games and exciting finishes. The action will continue on December 4th and 5th, with the semi-finals and championship game set to take place on December 7th and 9th in Las Vegas. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from the NBA’s new in-season tournament.
