LAS VEGAS — Tyrese Haliburton checked his watch and discovered it was his time.
There hasn't been a bigger winner in the NBA's In-Season Tournament than Haliburton. His Indiana Pacers are a close second.
Haliburton starred in the signature game of the tournament Monday, knocking off the Eastern Conference favorite Boston Celtics. He then followed that up by defeating the second favorite, the Milwaukee Bucks, on Thursday when the tournament shifted to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
In the process, Haliburton has put himself on the NBA map, the kind of story the league dreamed of when it first began discussing the idea of this tournament over a decade ago. A young team with a young star knocking off two heavyweights in a single-elimination tournament, making a name for himself and his team in the process.
On a court with Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished with 37 points and 10 rebounds, and Damian Lillard, who finished with 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Haliburton was the best player with 27 points on just 19 shots, seven rebounds and 15 assists. In the knockout rounds, he has 28 assists and zero turnovers. In the tournament overall, he has 52-45-89 shooting splits.
Against the Bucks and Celtics, Haliburton made a series of ridiculous plays late to seal the game, none bigger than a dagger 3. After sinking the Bucks' Cup hopes with Lillard defending, Haliburton decided to check his watch.
In a tournament where fans have been pleasantly surprised to discover the buy-in from the players, the Pacers represent the best potential outcome.
"We're a disruptor," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said after the game. "A lot of people didn't want us here. We don't care about any of that. (We've got) three more national TV games, so people are going to learn about the Indiana Pacers."
The Pacers are relishing the opportunity to play spoiler.
"We're shocking the world right now," Haliburton said.
Indiana is the kind of team that likely doesn't make a deep playoff run. The Pacers rank 30th, last, in defense. The In-Season Tournament (so far) has been a different environment, where offense has been more important than defense. In the playoffs, when the games slow down, the Pacers likely won't have as much success, especially trying to win four out of seven. But in a one-game environment against teams not prepared for Indiana's pace and Haliburton's ability to leverage the defense? The Pacers are perfect.
If the In-Season Tournament is going to carve out an identity in NBA lore, it needs teams like the Pacers making runs. The In-Season Tournament put Haliburton on a map he wouldn't have otherwise reached. Other teams in similar markets will see this and recognize the opportunity next year to put their game and their team on this kind of stage.
The Pacers are riding all the momentum into the In-Season Tournament Finals on Saturday. We'll see if they can upset one more team and cash the +1700 tickets that were out there before the knockout stage, and if Haliburton can make good on his 70-1 preseason In-Season Tournament MVP odds.
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