The Indiana Pacers kept their dream season alive and became the first team to qualify for the In-season semi-finals. In their last outing against the Miami Heat, the team went on a scoring spree to decimate the Zombie Heat without their superstar, Tyrese Haliburton. However, during the Monday night game, Haliburton turned up the heat against the Boston Celtics, denying them a semi-final spot.

Despite the Celtics’ chokehold in the first half of the game, the Pacers replied with a knockout punch in the latter half. Let’s find out three key takeaways from the game.

1. Tyrese Haliburton records 1st career triple-double in the best moment possible

Tyrese Haliburton lived up to the phrase ‘Cometh the hour, cometh the man’, dropping his first career triple-double on a knockout game. He recorded 26 points with 10 rebounds and 13 assists. The 23-year-old star anticipated the importance of the game right before the tipoff, as he admitted that he considered the quarter-final clash as the important game of his career during the post-game interview.

Moreover, it wasn’t just a one-man show, as seven players from the Pacers’ line-up scored in double digits to take home a 122-112 victory.

Haliburton also leads the rankings in the current In-Season MVP vote, and a couple more performances like this would all but ensure his trophy.

2. Holiday’s offensive struggles pose a major concern

The Celtics displayed a competitive effort throughout the entire stretch of the game. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown took care of the offense, dropping 32 and 30 points, respectively. The duo was further supported by Derrick White and Sam Hauser from the bench. However, the newest member of the team, Jrue Holiday, failed to contribute offensively, scoring only 9 points from his 39-minute stay on the court. Holiday was never known for his offensive prowess, but even in his Milwaukee days, he had moments where he would supply Giannis with assists. If Holiday’s offensive contributions are minimized, can the Celtics afford to sacrifice 15-20 points on offense hoping that Holiday would step up defensively?

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3. What’s next for the Pacers?

In the last couple of games, the Pacers have proven that they have the potential to score big with or without Tyrese Haliburton. The team had concerns with the defense, but the team’s chase from the first deficit to the third-quarter lead speaks a lot about the locker room mentality. Considering their run in this so far, surprisingly tough franchises, the Pacers have a sure shot at the In-Season Tournament championship. Next up, the Pacers will either take on the New York Knicks or the Milwaukee Bucks in the semi-final clash.

Haliburton & Co. faced the Bucks earlier this season, and took home a close 126-124 win, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s 50-point game. On the other hand, the Pacers haven’t played against the Knicks so far in the league. So if the Knicks qualify for the semis, fans can expect a fresh face-off.

What do you make of the Celtics’ quarterfinal upset? Let us know in the comments below.

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