(Las Vegas) Tyrese Haliburton scored 27 points and the Indiana Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 128-119 to advance to the final of the NBA’s first intra-season tournament on Thursday.
Saturday night, the Pacers will meet the Los Angeles Lakers, who defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in the other semi-final.
Myles Turner had 16 points for the Pacers. Obi Toppin had 14 points, Isaiah Jackson had 11 while Bruce Brown added 10.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a strong game for the Bucks with a total of 37 points and 10 rebounds. Damian Lillard contributed 24 points while Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez scored 20 and 18, respectively.
Trailing after three quarters, the Pacers started the fourth quarter dominating their opponents 14-8 to take a 105-102 lead. Turner, Brown and Haliburton combined for 17 points during a 21-13 run to end the game.
After scoring 146 points and hitting 23 three-pointers against the New York Knicks in the quarterfinals, the Bucks managed just 12 attempts from the perimeter.
Pelicans 89 – Lakers 133
LeBron James scored 30 points in less than three quarters and the Lakers easily defeated the Pelicans 133-89 to join the Pacers in the final.
Austin Reaves added 17 points to the board for the Lakers. Anthony Davis had 16 points and 15 rebounds and Taurean Prince finished his night of work with 15 points.
Trey Murphy III led the charge for the Pelicans with 14 points.