Tyrese Haliburton scored 27 points and made 13 assists, guiding the Indiana Pacers to a convincing 133-111 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night.
Despite getting ejected due to a flagrant foul in the third quarter, Pacers forward Jalen Smith contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The Nets’ Dennis Schröder received a technical foul for hitting Smith’s face during a follow-through, leading to Smith’s ejection for retaliating by pushing Schroder.
Pascal Siakam chipped in with 15 points, while Obi Toppin added 14 for the Pacers. Cam Thomas led the Nets with 22 points, followed by Trendon Watford with 21 and Mikal Bridges with 19.
The Pacers maintained a solid shooting percentage of 52% throughout the game. “We executed well on offense,” remarked Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “Our fast and unpredictable style makes us a tough team to contend with.”
Indiana took control early, leading 43-27 after the first quarter and widening the gap to 75-47 by halftime. At one point, they held a 29-point lead in the first half.
“We started strong by pushing the pace,” Haliburton commented on their rapid start. “Getting stops and running led to our shots falling. We played with the right approach.”
The Pacers shot an impressive 58% in the first half while limiting the Nets to 38%. They extended their lead to as much as 36 points in the third quarter.
However, Indiana faced a setback when center Myles Turner dislocated his right index finger on a dunk attempt. He didn’t return in the second half, finishing with nine points and five blocks in 14 minutes.
Coach Carlisle mentioned that X-rays showed no fracture, but Turner’s availability for Wednesday’s game remains uncertain. Nets coach Kevin Ollie acknowledged the need for his team to be better prepared.
