INDIANAPOLIS (AP) 鈥� Tyrese Haliburton finished with 24 points and 11 assists, and and added 20 points to help the Indiana Pacers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-103 on Monday night.
The Pacers have won five straight and seven of eight to stay ahead of Milwaukee in the chase for the Eastern Conference's No. 4 seed. Haliburton extended his career best streak to 11 straight games with double-doubles on a night six Pacers players scored at least 10 points.
Naz Reid led the Timberwolves with 20 points and Anthony Edwards added 17 despite being a game-time decision with a hand injury. Rudy Gobert finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds as Minnesota lost for the third time in four games.
Indiana never trailed, using a flurry of nine 3s in the third quarter to build a 95-73 lead. Minnesota couldn't get within single digits the rest of the game. Indiana has won eight straight home games.
Takeaways
Timberwolves: Minnesota is struggling at exactly the wrong time. They've won only once since having a seven-game winning streak snapped, and if they want to earn one of the top six spots in the West, they need to turn things around quickly.
Pacers: On the other hand, Indiana is playing perhaps its best basketball all season. They've won the first four of a five-game homestand and have done it by winning close games, crazy games and now pulling away in this one.
Key moment
After the Timberwolves cut the deficit to 65-57 early in the third quarter, Indiana outscored Minnesota 23-12, making six 3s during the span.
Key stat
Indiana was 9 for 14 on 3s in the third quarter.
Up next
Timberwolves host Phoenix on Friday, and Pacers host the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday to wrap up a five-game homestand.
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AP NBA:
Michael Marot, The Associated Press
