INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton had 18 of Indiana’s franchise-record 50 assists and the Pacers routed the Atlanta Hawks 150-116 on Thursday night for their sixth straight victory.
Haliburton, the NBA assists leader at 12.8 per game, also had 10 points and eight rebounds in just over 25 minutes. Myles Turner led Indiana with 27 points, Bennedict Mathurin had 18, Bruce Brown 17 and Aaron Nesmith 15.
The NBA’s highest-scoring team, Indiana reached 150 points against the Hawks for the second time this season after setting a league season high in a 157-152 victory in Atlanta on Nov. 21.
Dejounte Murray led the Hawks with 30 points. Trae Young missed his first seven shots and finished with 13 points on 4-of-18 shooting. He was 1 of 11 from 3-point range.
The Pacers shot 71% in the first half and led 78-54 at the break. Indiana shot 64% overall while Atlanta was at 43%. Indiana was 19 of 39 from 3-point range.
CELTICS 126, JAZZ 97
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and hit five 3-pointers to help Eastern Conference-leading Boston run past Utah for its seventh victory in eight games.
Boston never trailed, led by 36 points in the first half and made 17 3s for the night. The Eastern Conference leaders earned their seventh victory in eight games.
Lauri Markkanen had 17 points for Utah, The Jazz had won three straight.
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