Tyrese Haliburton led the Indiana Pacers to a 123-117 victory over the Houston Rockets with an impressive 33-point, 10-assist performance, including a critical go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute. This win ended the Pacers’ three-game losing streak and marked their first road win since December 7, helping to respond after struggles since the NBA In-Season Tournament.
Haliburton, who shot 13-21 from the field and 7-13 from 3-point range, felt the game’s urgency, considering it a must-win for the team.
“When you get .500, you feel a little more pressure because nobody wants to be under .500,” Haliburton said. “We felt like this game was kind of a must win for us. That’s a really good team, a really feisty team, and we just figured out a way to pull it out today.”
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle praised the competitive nature of the game, which saw 15 lead changes and six ties.
“What a great game,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “Just super competitive, tons of actions, a bunch of lead changes — high-level players out there. I’m real proud of our guys.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets Updates
Alperen Sengun stood out for Houston, scoring 30 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Coming off a career-high 37 points in their previous game against New Orleans, Sengun also contributed five assists and four steals. He acknowledged the Pacers’ offensive strength and ability to make clutch shots.
“We knew they’re like the best offensive team in the league,” Sengun said. “We tried to solve it in the gameplan, but they’re still a good team. They made their clutch shots so they win.”
Fred VanVleet added 18 points and nine assists for Houston, briefly giving them the lead late in the game. However, Haliburton’s third-quarter performance, which included three 3-pointers during a 12-2 run, gave Indiana an 11-point lead heading into the final quarter.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets Updates
Rockets coach Ime Udoka was surprised at how close the game remained despite the Pacers’ strong third quarter. Dillon Brooks of the Rockets left the game with a right abdominal oblique strain, further impacting Houston’s lineup.
“It was shocking at the point, the way we played in the third quarter and the amount of 3s that they hit that we were still in the game at that point,” Udoka said.
While Houston outscored Indiana in the paint, the Pacers excelled from beyond the arc, hitting 19 of their 43 3-point attempts. Tari Eason’s impactful play off the bench for Houston included a steal and a breakaway dunk at the end of the first quarter. The Pacers played without Reggie Bullock Jr. and Bruce Brown, while Obi Toppin came off the bench to add seven points in 14 minutes.
Looking ahead, the Pacers will face the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night, while the Rockets are set to host the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.
