Tyrese Haliburton records career-high 19 assists in Pacers’ overtime win over Rockets

Tyrese Haliburton had 28 points and a career-high 19 assists, Buddy Hield hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime and the Indiana Pacers beat the Houston Rockets 134-125 on Thursday night.

Hield broke a 117-point tie with his fifth 3-pointer and Haliburton scored 12 points after that as the Pacers outscored the Rockets 19-10 in overtime.

“It’s not pressure,” Haliburton said. It’s just basketball. It’s understanding that guys expect him to make plays. That’s what I’m here for. … This is part of my maturation as an NBA player and as a point guard in this organization. I love that. I love that expectation for me.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle discussed his All-Star point guard’s growing affinity for making plays late.

“He took over the game in overtime,” Carlisle said. “He’s certainly shown that’s what he does. He loves those moments, in the same way that (Hall of Famer) Reggie Miller loved those moments.”

The Pacers have won seven straight games against the Rockets, who have the second-worst record in the NBA at 15-51.

“I’ll blame Buddy for not having 20 (assists),” Haliburton said with a smile, referring to Hield’s missed shot.

The Rockets trailed for three quarters before rallying on a 15-2 run to take a 110-108 lead with 4:10 remaining. Houston’s rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. hit a 3-pointer with four seconds left to force overtime.

“Smith made a hell of a shot to put them in overtime,” Carlisle said, “and we had to win big.”

Indiana’s Myles Turner scored 21 points and blocked seven shots. Jordan Nwora added 18 points off the bench. Hield was 17.

Smith scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half and grabbed 12 rebounds. Jalen Green had 24 points and Kenyon Martin Jr. 23.

“It’s progress,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. ‘It’s about going down a lot, counterattacking, finding lineups that haven’t played together much. We just have to find a way to shoot a few more 3s. They did more than we shot. That’s hard to beat.

Indiana made 14 of 24 shots, including 6 of 12 3-pointers, to take a 38-27 lead after the first quarter. Indiana led by 18 in the first half and held a 64-58 halftime lead.

The Rockets held an 82-58 advantage in points in the paint and outrebounded the Pacers 58-42.

“These guys with 17 games to go are fighting very hard, and that’s progress,” Silas said.

JAZZ 131, MAGIC 124

Lauri Markkanen scored 31 points, Talen Horton-Tucker had 23 and Utah beat Orlando to snap a four-game losing streak.

Simone Fontecchio added 17 points for Utah, and rookie Walker Kessler’s 13 points and 10 rebounds included a big three-point play with 35 seconds remaining after the Magic cut the deficit to one point.

Paolo Banchero scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter for Orlando. Markelle Fultz had 25 points and six assists.

HORNETS 113, PISTONS 103

Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 27 points and Terry Rozier had 21 points and nine assists as the Charlotte Hornets beat Detroit 113-103 on Thursday night to extend the Pistons’ losing streak to 10 games.

PJ Washington added 20 points and Nick Richards had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Hornets, who won their second straight game and the seventh time in 10 games.

Cory Joseph scored 17 points and James Wiseman had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Pistons.

DOLLARS 118, NETWORKS 113

Brook Lopez had 24 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high nine blocks, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the shorthanded Brooklyn Nets 118-113 on Thursday night.

The nine blocks are the most by an NBA player this season. Bobby Portis added a season-high 28 points along with 13 rebounds to help the NBA-leading Bucks win for the 19th time in 20 games.

The Bucks were without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for the second straight game. Antetokounmpo sat out due to soreness in his right hand after missing a 134-123 victory in Orlando on Tuesday with a non-COVID-related illness.

KINGS 119, KNICKS 115

The Sacramento Kings defeated the New York Knicks 119-115 in large part thanks to Domantas Sabonis recording his ninth triple-double of the season along with 24 points.

De’ Aaron was not far behind with 24 points, former Kentucky Wildcat Malik Monk scoring 19.

RJ Barrett led the way for the Knicks with 25 points, who will be left concerned about the condition of star point guard Jalen Brunson, who left the game at halftime with a sore foot.

Brunson missed the Knicks’ previous two games with a foot problem.