Game recap: Pacers beat Bucks to reach NBA in-season tournament championship game

The Indiana Pacers are in the semifinals of the NBA's inaugural in-season tournament. They're playing the Milwaukee Bucks in Las Vegas.

The Pacers (11-8) earned their spot by rallying to beat the Boston Celtics 122-112 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tyrese Haliburton had his first career triple-double (26 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds, 0 turnovers) and Indiana had seven players in double figures. The Bucks (15-6) defeated the New York Knicks 146-122 as Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 35 points and 10 assists, and Damian Lillard added 28 points and 7 assists.

These teams met in Indianapolis on Nov. 9, with the Pacers prevailing 126-121 despite Antetokounmpo's 54 points. Lillard didn't play in that game.

Dustin Dopirak is your best Pacers follow and will have updates throughout. We will have score updates and highlights, so please remember to refresh.

From Dustin Dopirak: Haliburton, Turner post double-doubles to lead Pacers to IST Finals

Final: Pacers 128, Bucks 119

The Indiana Pacers punch their ticket to the NBA in-season tournament championship game and a chance at $500,000 per player.

They play the winner of tonight's later game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.

The Pacers make 14 late free throws in a row, and have three critical putbacks in the closing minutes.

Tyrese Haliburton has 27 points, 15 assists and 0 turnovers, and Myles Turner has 26 points and 10 rebounds. Indiana's bench adds 43 points.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 37 points with 10 rebounds for Milwaukee, while Damian Lillard scores 20 of his 24 points in the second half.

:48 left 4Q: Pacers 122, Bucks 114

Tyrese Haliburton gets a 3 off of a second chance with 48 seconds remaining.

Myles Turner and Buddy Hield get putbacks of Bruce Brown misses to get a 5-point lead.

3:26 left 4Q: Pacers 113, Bucks 110

Tyrese Halliburton has 22 points, 15 assists and 0 turnovers. Giannis Antetokounmpo has 35 points and 10 rebounds.

Aaron Nesmith commits his 5th foul with 3:57 to go.

Bruce Brown hits a couple of baskets.

6:57 left 4Q: Pacers 105, Bucks 104

Andrew Nembhard suffers a leg injury and heads to the locker room with help from staff.

8:00 left 4Q: Pacers 101, Bucks 100

Tyrese Haliburton hits Obi Toppin for a flying reverse alley-oop. Timeout, Bucks.

T.J. McConnell commits 3 straight turnovers after leading the Pacers' bench mob to a 99-95 lead.

End 3Q: Bucks 94, Pacers 91

Milwaukee scores 43 in the quarter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is 11-of-13 on free throws with 31 points. Tyrese Haliburton has a double-double (20 points, 11 assists) and Myles Turner is up to 20 points.

Andrew Nembhard briefly ties the score at 78 as part of his four baskets in quick fashion.

6:16 left 3Q: Bucks 76, Pacers 72

Damian Lillard (18 points, 14 this quarter) and Khris Middleton (13, 6 this quarter) are involved for the Bucks, and Tyrese Haliburton (20, 9 this quarter) is a one-man show for the Pacers. It's 25-9 Bucks in this quarter.

Milwaukee's 11-0 run gives it the lead. Bucks have gone to a zone defense, and it has bothered the Pacers.

Tyrese Haliburton is hitting 2s, but Khris Middleton is hitting 3s and is up to 13 points.

11:08 left 3Q: Pacers 63, Bucks 54

A Bruce Brown turnover turns into a Damian Lillard 3-pointer. Timeout, Pacers.

Halftime: Pacers 63, Bucks 51

Myles Turner has 16 points, Tyrese Haliburton has 11 (with 7 assists) and Obi Toppin 10.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has 20 points (with 6 rebounds) and Brook Lopez 12 for Milwaukee.

The Pacers are keeping up in shooting (50%-44%) and rebounding (23-22 edge), and have just 3 turnovers to the Bucks' 7. The Pacers own a 20-6 bench scoring edge.

3:09 left 2Q: Pacers 54, Bucks 44

Obi Toppin has 5 quick points and the Bucks call timeout. He has 10 points, including a 3 off of a nifty Tyrese Haliburton pass.

4:19 left 2Q: Pacers 49, Bucks 44

Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks again and has 16 points.

Damian Lillard's first basket comes with 6:09 left on a nifty layup. He scores on Milwaukee's next play.

T.J. McConnell checks out after logging 7 points, 3 assists and 3 steals in relief of Tyrese Haliburton. Isaiah Jackson had 7 points and 3 rebounds in relief of Myles Turner.

8:24 2Q: Pacers 38, Bucks 34

The Pacers steal leads to the Bennedict Mathurin dunk and a Bucks timeout.

T.J. McConnell's reverse layup gives him 7 points and the Pacers a 36-34 lead.

Giannis Antetokounmpo throws one down.

End 1Q: Bucks 29, Pacers 27

Giannis Antetokounmpo has 10 points, Damian Lillard 0 (0-of-6 shooting). Myles Turner has 10 points, Tyrese Haliburton 6. Both teams cooled considerably after hot-shooting starts (both at 44%).

Marjon Beauchamp scores 2 straight baskets after the Pacers tie.

Isaiah Jackson gets the and-1 on a pass from Tyrese Haliburton, tying the score at 23.

4:13 left 1Q: Bucks 23, Pacers 20

Myles Turner has 10 points and 2 assists.

Bruce Brown tweaks an ankle while defending Damian Lillard.

7:03 left 1Q: Bucks 19, Pacers 12

Giannis Antetokounmpo has 8 points (3-of-3 from the field, 2-of-3 free throws), and the Bucks have made 7 straight shots. Tyrese Haliburton has 6 (3-of-3).

Myles Turner throws one down on Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks miss their first 4 shots before Brook Lopez's 3-pointer. He hits another on the next play to put Milwaukee up 6-4.

Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner arrive for Pacers vs. Bucks in Las Vegas

When will the Pacers play the Bucks in the in-season tournament?

5 p.m. ET Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas

What channel are the Pacers on in the NBA in-season tournament?

TV: ESPN

Radio: Pacers radio network (93.5, 107.5 FM in Indianapolis)

Streaming: NBA League Pass, ESPN+

Pacers vs. Bucks betting odds

via BetMGM

Favorite: Bucks by 5.5 points

Over/under: 256.5 total points

Moneyline: Bucks -200, Pacers +165

Pacers coverage from IndyStar

'The ball will love me back': Buddy Hield always tries to get his hands on the ball

'How do you not feel the buzz?': If the IST is like March Madness, Pacers are Cinderella

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers vs. Bucks score updates, highlights, analysis NBA in-season