Pacers set team record for scoring in single NBA game

Tyrese Haliburton scored 29 points, one of nine Indiana players in double figures, as the Indiana Pacers broke their NBA franchise record for points in a game in a 162-109 rout of the host Washington Wizards on Thursday night.

It was also the most points allowed in franchise history for Washington and the most points scored in an NBA game this season.

The Pacers have scored more points in a single game in their history, but not since they played in the American Basketball Association. In 1970, the Pacers set an ABA single-game scoring record by whipping the visiting Pittsburgh Pipers 177-135.

The final score against Washington on Thursday could have been even more lopsided, but Indiana began taking shot clock violations with well over a minute remaining, drawing boos from the crowd in Washington, D.C.

The Pacers made 27 three-pointers in the victory, which also broke a team record. Indiana had 48 assists on 59 made field goals.

Indiana’s previous record in an NBA game was 157 points, set most recently last season.

The most points scored by an NBA team in regulation was 173 by the Phoenix Suns in 1990 and the Boston Celtics in 1959.

Myles Turner added 17 points for the Pacers, who rebounded after losing a night earlier to the Los Angeles Lakers on a buzzer-beating tip in by LeBron James.

That loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Pacers, but this matchup with the cellar-dwelling Wizards gave Indiana a good chance to start a new streak. Indiana led 83-61 at the half. It was 125-88 after three, with Indiana shooting 22 of 34 from 3-point range at that point and 66% overall.

Rookie Alex Sarr led Washington with 22 points.

Takeaways

Indiana is in a tight race for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Pacers (43-30) are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference, but they’re being pushed by Detroit (41-32) and Milwaukee (40-32). Taking care of business against teams like Washington is a good way to hold onto the No. 4 seed.