PARIS — In an impressive display during the NBA Paris Games finale on Saturday, Tyrese Haliburton shone brightly for the Indiana Pacers, scoring 28 points, 16 of which came in a spectacular two-and-a-half-minute segment late in the third quarter. The Pacers triumphed over Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs with a resounding score of 136-98.
Pascal Siakam contributed significantly to the Pacers’ performance, adding 23 points to the scoreboard. Other notable contributions included Andrew Nembhard with 15 points, Myles Turner with 14, Bennedict Mathurin scoring 13, and TJ McConnell pitching in 12 points. Indiana had a 15-point lead at halftime and briefly fell behind by one in the third quarter before dominating the remainder of the game.
For the Spurs, Wembanyama managed to put up 20 points alongside 12 rebounds, while Harrison Barnes led the team with 25 points, and Stephon Castle added 17 points. Wembanyama’s shooting was decent, hitting 7 of 16 attempts from the field; he also contributed defensively with two steals, two assists, and a block.
In the highlights of the game, Haliburton exhibited outstanding efficiency, going 6 for 6 during that electrifying stretch late in the third quarter, including hitting four three-pointers. The Pacers converted seven of their last eight shots in that quarter to establish a solid 15-point advantage, continuing to expand it into the fourth.
San Antonio faced a challenge as this marked their fourth two-game series against the same opponent this season, with the Spurs yet to achieve a sweep. They have ended up with a 1-1 record against teams like Houston and Denver, lost both games to Memphis, and recently split with the Pacers.
A key moment occurred when Wembanyama exited the game with 3:35 remaining, leaving the court with the score at 127-97 against the Spurs. Despite the challenging outcome, he received a warm reception from the Paris crowd, showing his gratitude with applause.
An impressive statistic from the match highlights Haliburton’s performance in the third quarter, where he scored 18 points — marking his highest-scoring quarter of the season.
Looking ahead, both teams will have a break before returning to their home arenas for games on Wednesday. The Spurs will host the Los Angeles Clippers, while the Pacers will face off against the Detroit Pistons.
