The Indiana Pacers, fueled by Tyrese Haliburton’s first career triple-double, beat the Boston Celtics 122-112 Monday to become the first team to reach the semifinals of the NBA’s new in-season tournament.

Haliburton scored 26 points with 10 rebounds and 13 assists and the Pacers put together a 9-0 scoring run with less than two minutes remaining to take control of a tightly contested battle in Indianapolis.

The Pacers, ranked sixth in the Eastern Conference regular-season standings, knocked out the East-leading Celtics and will face either the Milwaukee Bucks or New York Knicks in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday.

The Bucks will host the New York Knicks in the quarters on Tuesday and Haliburton said the Pacers will be ready for either one.

“We’re a young, hungry group and we want to win every night,” Haliburton said. “So we’re excited to be there, but we’re not complacent being there. We want to win.”

Buddy Hield added 21 points for the Pacers, who had seven players score in double figures.

Jayson Tatum scored 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Jaylen Brown added 30 points and nine rebounds for Boston, who dominated inside in the first half but just couldn’t keep the prolific Pacers offense in check in the second.

Boston out-scored Indiana 32-14 in the paint and out-rebounded them 34-19 in the first half and led 55-48 at the break.

The Pacers turned the tables in the second half. Haliburton, held to seven points in the first half, scored eight in the first four minutes of the third quarter.

It was all tied up at 105-105 with 1:33 to play when Indiana delivered the final blow.

Haliburton drew a foul on a step-back three and converted the free throw to give the Pacers the lead for good.

Hield drilled a three-pointer and Aaron Nesmith threw down a dunk before the Celtics could respond and the Pacers held on.

Later Monday, the Sacramento Kings hosted the New Orleans Pelicans in the first Western Conference quarter-final, with the Los Angeles Lakers due to host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

The title game is on Saturday in Vegas — where the finalists will be competing for the first NBA Cup and for the $500,000 in prize money per player on the winning team.

Credits: https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/05/23/haliburton-propels-pacers-past-celtics-into-nba-cup-semis