Pacers beat Kings as Tyrese Haliburton wins in old stomping grounds

Field Level Media|published: Sun 22nd December, 20:32 2024

December 22, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) shoots the basketball against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Pascal Siakam led a balanced attack with 19 points, Tyrese Haliburton enjoyed his first triumphant homecoming and the visiting Indiana Pacers rolled past the struggling Sacramento Kings 122-95 on Sunday afternoon.

Playing in Sacramento for just the second time since being dealt from the Kings to the Pacers in February 2022, Haliburton contributed 14 points, eight assists and five rebounds to Indiana's fourth consecutive win.

The former 12th overall pick by the Kings in 2020 had lost in his only previous healthy return to Sacramento on Nov. 30, 2022.

Riding the momentum of a win at Phoenix to tip off a three-game Western swing, the Pacers broke from a 54-all tie early in the third quarter with seven straight points and were never headed off again. Andrew Nembhard ignited the run with back-to-back hoops.

Indiana extended the lead to as many as 14 before period's end and was never challenged in the final 12 minutes by a Kings team that dropped its fourth straight.

Siakam complemented his team-high point total with a team-high 10 rebounds, giving him his second consecutive double-double and fourth of the season.

All but two of Haliburton's points came via four 3-pointers. The Pacers outscored the hosts 51-36 from beyond the arc.

Myles Turner (15 points), Ben Sheppard (14), Nembhard (12), T.J. McConnell (12) and Obi Toppin (11) also scored in double figures for the Pacers, who shot 58.1 percent. McConnell completed a double-double off the bench with a game-high 10 assists.

De'Aaron Fox was the game's top scorer with 23 points for the Kings, who shot just 36.5 percent. He added seven assists.

Domantas Sabonis, who went from Indiana to Sacramento in the six-player Haliburton trade, snatched a game-high 21 rebounds to go with 17 points.

Malik Monk chipped in with 14 points and Keegan Murray 10 for the Kings, who were playing their second consecutive afternoon home game. They were beaten 103-99 by the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.

--Field Level Media

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