The Indiana Pacers put on an astonishing offensive performance on Friday night, demolishing the Atlanta Hawks by a score of 150-116 for their sixth consecutive victory. Led by Tyrese Haliburton’s NBA-leading playmaking, the Pacers tied a franchise record with 50 assists while having seven players score in double figures.
Haliburton was magnificent as always, racking up 18 assists along with 10 points and 8 rebounds in just over 25 minutes of action. His assist tally now gives him 11 straight games with 10+ dimes, extending the longest such streak in Pacers history. Myles Turner led Indiana in scoring with an ultra-efficient 27 points on 10-14 shooting.
This was the Pacers’ second 150+ point outburst against Atlanta this year, also scoring 157 in a November shootout. Indiana’s long-range shooting was clicking all night, as they knocked down 23 threes as a team. When asked about the secret to his team’s current hot streak, coach Rick Carlisle cited their offensive unselfishness and commitment to physical defense.
Carlisle did warn about becoming overconfident, saying “celebration times are short” in the NBA. He knows the schedule only gets harder from here, with the daunting Boston Celtics up next on Saturday. Still, a performance like this shows the potential of his young, exuberant squad when they are locked in.
The Hawks had no answers defensively and were not helped much by Trae Young’s 4-18 shooting night. New coach Quin Snyder criticized his team’s transition defense in particular, as Indiana scored countless easy baskets in the open floor. Atlanta simply could not match the energy or efficiency of the Pacers, who shot 56.6% as a team.
Haliburton and Turner have developed perhaps the top pick-and-roll partnership in the league. Turner says there is a different, special energy around this Pacers group right now. At 23-18, Indiana sits 5th in the East on the strength of Haliburton’s masterful orchestrating of the offense. If they can even come close to this level on most nights, they will be a dangerous matchup for any playoff opponent.
Friday night showed the tantalizing potential of this young, exuberant Pacers squad. Led by Tyrese Haliburton’s virtuoso playmaking and Myles Turner’s elite finishing, Indiana can overwhelm teams with a barrage of threes and transition buckets when firing on all cylinders. They moved the ball beautifully with 50 assists on 55 makes, shredding Atlanta’s defense possession after possession.
The Hawks looked helpless at times, with Trae Young struggling through an abysmal shooting night. But this was more about the Pacers’ brilliance than Atlanta’s shortcomings. Indiana shot nearly 57% overall while tying a franchise record for assists. Turnovers were also remarkably low given the fast pace and emphasis on passing.
Coach Rick Carlisle credited his team’s “unselfishness” and commitment to physicality on defense. Myles Turner highlighted the special energy and environment this group has created. With Tyrese Haliburton conducting the symphony with his league-leading vision and passing, the Pacers continue to prove they can score with anyone.
The challenge now becomes maintaining consistency and bringing defensive intensity against elite competition like Boston. But during this torrid six-game winning streak, the young Pacers have shown they are coming together and capable of monster offensive nights thanks to Haliburton’s mastery running the show. If the supporting cast continues knocking down shots like this, watch out.
