Tyrese Haliburton, the NBA’s leader in assists, delivered a standout performance with a career-high 20 assists and 21 points, propelling the Indiana Pacers to a 120-104 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
Haliburton’s achievement was even more impressive, considering he had no turnovers and was dealing with a sore lower back, making him one of only five players in NBA history to record 20 or more assists without a turnover.
“You don’t get 20 assists without guys making a lot of shots,” Haliburton said. “I’ve done a terrible job of taking care of the ball lately, so it’s good to see zero turnovers again.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers, DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls Updates
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle praised Haliburton’s resilience, noting his struggle with back tightness during the morning shootaround.
“This morning he had to step out of shootaround, his back was tight,” Carlisle said. “I was surprised that he played based on how he was presenting this morning, but we have the best medical staff in the league.”
Despite this, Haliburton played a pivotal role in the win, further bolstered by Myles Turner’s 24 points and Buddy Hield’s 19 points. The Pacers excelled in three-point shooting, hitting 19 out of 42 attempts, contributing to their second consecutive win.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers, DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls Updates
The Bulls, who have been grappling with injuries, saw a spirited comeback in the game, overturning a 25-point deficit to lead briefly. However, Haliburton’s late three-pointers sealed the win for the Pacers.
“People look at me to be a closer for this team,” Haliburton said. “Guys trust me, guys give me the ball in the right spot.”
Patrick Williams scored 22 points for Chicago, with DeMar DeRozan adding 21, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Pacers’ strong performance.
“You never want to put yourself in a position to have to fight back from a deficit,” Williams said. “We did a good job obviously working our way back into the game, but it’s tough to expend all that energy to get back.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers, DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls Updates
The Pacers’ defensive efforts were highlighted by Turner, who regarded the game as one of their best defensive displays. Meanwhile, the Bulls continue their six-game homestand with mixed results, with All-Star guard Zach Lavine missing due to a foot injury.
“Everything does start with our defense,” Turner said. “That was probably our best defensive game. We held them to 104 points, a season-low. Overall, we’re growing as a group.”
Looking ahead, the Pacers are set to host the New York Knicks, while the Bulls will face the Philadelphia 76ers in their upcoming games.
