The Indiana Pacers pulled off a win over the Boston Celtics on Monday night, propelling themselves into the semifinals of the In-Season Tournament.
They will face off against the winner of the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks in what should be an exciting matchup.
While there was a lot of fanfare surrounding the Pacers and their surprising win, another storyline emerged throughout this game.
Tyrese Haliburton achieved the first triple-double of his career, which elicited chants of “MVP” from the Pacers fanbase.
When asked about this experience in a postgame interview shared by the NBA, Haliburton said, “It really means the world to me to have the opportunity to represent Indiana and this storied organization.”
"It really means the world to me to have the opportunity to represent Indiana and this storied organization."
Tyrese Haliburton on getting "MVP" chants in the Pacers' In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals W pic.twitter.com/HvBuzjadki
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
This was far from the only big game of Haliburton’s 2023 season, but it was his first triple-double.
He has been a breath of fresh air for an organization that has struggled for several years, not making the playoffs since the 2019-2020 campaign.
Haliburton is among the league leaders in points and currently leads the league in assists per game.
This has helped bring the Pacers’ record to 11-8, good for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
While they have a way to go, and this might not yet be the year that the Pacers win the NBA Finals, this seems to be a step in the right direction.
The Eastern Conference has been top-heavy over the past several years.
For a team to break through in the East, they must have a rock-solid lineup with enough depth to make a substantial difference in big games.
When can the Pacers combine all the pieces, making them a legitimate contender?
NEXT: Tyrese Haliburton Has Hilarious Reaction To His Own Remarks