Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton was delighted after their 122-112 victory in Monday’s in-season tournament quarterfinal against favorites Boston Celtics. Haliburton scored his first career triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists in 40 minutes.

Haliburton was not at his best in the first half but he was able to turn the tables in the second term. The 23-year-old had missed the team’s Saturday win against the Miami Heat due to a respiratory infection and he used an inhaler after the first half against the Celtics.

“The first half, I was dead,” Haliburton said later.

“It feels good to win,” Haliburton said with a smile, “especially in a game where nobody expected us to.”

The Celtics were favorites to go all the way and win the first-ever NBA Cup but they were stunned by the Pacers.

In fact, the arena was reverberated with chants of MVP for Haliburton late in the second half and Miles Turner was delighted to note the lively atmosphere.

“The story, the backstory of it all makes it, you know, the most special,” Turner said. “And the fact that he got his opportunity, he is able to take it and run with it … I mean, it’s just dope to see where this franchise, where I started with to what it’s becoming and what it potentially can become from the same level. It’s honestly, like I said, it goes back to the atmosphere. I haven’t heard MVP chants, maybe when (Victor) Oladipo was here, but Ty’s really come in and taken over and it’s fun stuff.”

On the other hand, Jayson Tatum admitted that the Boston Celtics should have been more connected defensively and they had to pay the price.

“We got to just be more connected defensively,” said Jayson Tatum, who finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds for Boston. “But, I mean, it’s the NBA. Sometimes guys are going to make plays. He hit some tough shots. So it’s kind of two fold.

“Guys get paid a lot of money to play basketball, and they’re pretty good.”

Indiana Pacers will next take on Detroit Pistons on 11th December.