Despite Elfrid Payton’s 21 assists, the Pacers slipped past the Pelicans

Tyrese Haliburton had 34 points and 13 assists and the Indiana Pacers defeated 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 of 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 after a 13-game absence due to an adductor strain and added 23 for New Orleans, which lost its fifth straight game.

Murphy and McCollum made consecutive baskets to open the scoring for the Pelicans in the third quarter, tying them at 61 points.

Haliburton opened the scoring with a 3-pointer before Missi made consecutive dunks to create the first of six lead changes in the quarter.

Indiana took a seven-point lead before Brandon Boston Jr. hit a three-pointer at the end of the third quarter to put New Orleans up 87-83.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl hit a three-pointer to start the fourth quarter and Payton had 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 three-pointers to give Indiana a 102-95 lead with 5:28 left.

McCollum scored five straight goals to help New Orleans tie the score at 104, but Haliburton answered with a three-pointer with 3:08 left. The Pelicans got within a point twice but couldn’t equalize.

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 goals to take a 14-point lead.

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

Siakam’s 3-pointer opened the scoring in the second quarter and added two assists to give the Pacers a 39-31 lead. The lead grew to 55-38 as the Pelicans made just three field goals over a span of more than five minutes.

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

–Field level media