Pacers slip past Pelicans despite Elfrid Payton’s 21 assists

Tyrese Haliburton had 34 points and 13 assists, and the Indiana Pacers held off the New Orleans Pelicans 114-110 on Monday night in Indianapolis.

Myles Turner added 17 points, Pascal Siakam scored 14 and Bennedict Mathurin and Quenton Jackson each had 12 for the Pacers. Both Turner and Mathurin grabbed nine boards.

Elfrid Payton had 21 assists, the most in a game by any player this season, and added 14 points for the Pelicans. Rookie Yves Missi had 16 points and 13 rebounds, Trey Murphy III scored 24 and CJ McCollum returned from a 13-game absence due to a strained adductor to add 23 for New Orleans, which lost its fifth straight.

Murphy and McCollum made back-to-back baskets to start the Pelicans’ scoring in the third quarter and pull within 61.

Haliburton broke the tie by making a 3-pointer before Missi made consecutive dunks to produce the first of six lead changes in the quarter.

Indiana took a seven-point lead before Brandon Boston Jr. made a 3-pointer to get New Orleans within 87-83 at the end of the third quarter.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl hit a trey to start the scoring in the fourth quarter, and Payton added two baskets and two assists to help the Pelicans take a 95-93 lead.

Turner converted a three-point play and Jackson and Haliburton made consecutive 3-pointers to propel Indiana ahead 102-95 with 5:28 left.

McCollum scored five straight to help New Orleans tie the game at 104, but Haliburton answered with a clear three with 3:08 left. The Pelicans got within a point twice but couldn’t pull even.

Siakam scored the final five points of an 8-0 run that gave the Pacers an 18-8 lead in the first quarter. Daniel Theis’ field goal ended the run before Indiana scored six straight to take a 14-point lead.

Murphy scored five points during a 15-5 run that pulled New Orleans within 29-25 at the end of the first quarter.

Siakam’s 3-pointer started the scoring in the second quarter, and he added two assists as the Pacers opened a 39-31 lead. The margin grew to 55-38 as the Pelicans made just three field goals over a five-plus minute span.

Murphy scored nine points as New Orleans finished with a 19-4 run to get within 59-57 at halftime.

–Field-level media