Eastern Conference Recaps, Feb. 28: Indiana Pacers Hold Off Dallas Mavericks Despite Luke Doncic's 39 Points

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton has a dilemma around this time every year. 

See, he was born Feb. 29. With that date absent from the 2023 calendar, Haliburton will just have to settle for celebrating by scoring 32 points in a 124-122 victory against the Dallas Mavericks. 

“It’s not really my birthday, but I’ll take it,” Haliburton said. “We’ll celebrate it today. We’ll celebrate tomorrow. I get both days, but I don’t get a real day.”

Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 39 points and Kyrie Irving had 16. Myles Turner had 24 points and Jordan Nwora had 16 off the bench.

NEXT MAVERICKS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: April 1 at Miami

OTHER NOTES:

-After being sidelined one game with a knee injury, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to their 15th straight win.

He had 33 points and 15 rebounds in a 118-104 victory against the Brooklyn Nets. The Bucks rallied from a 10-point, halftime deficit.

“I think we went 12-2 to start, and then they went back on a 10-0 run, and it felt like it was back to a 10-point game,” Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said. “The guys, to go on that run to finish the quarter (was) impressive.”

Jrue Holiday had 14 points and Khris Middleton led all reserves with 18. Mikal Bridges led the Nets with 31 points and Spencer Dinwiddie had 26.

NEXT NETS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Mar. 25 at Miami

-Bradley Beal scored 37 points to lead the Washington Wizards to a 119-116 victory against the Atlanta Hawks. Kyle Kuzma had 28 points and Daniel Gafford had 13 points and 12 rebounds. Trae Young led the Hawks with 31 points and Bogdan Bogdanovic had 16 off the bench.

NEXT WIZARDS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Apr. 7 in Washington

NEXT HAWKS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Mar. 4 at Miami

-Five Toronto Raptors players scored in double-figures in a 104-98 victory against the Chicago Bulls. Pascal Siakam led the way with 20 points and Gary Trent led all reserves with 19.

Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with 23 points and Zach LaVine had 17.

NEXT RAPTORS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Mar. 28 in Toronto

NEXT BULLS GAME AGAINST THE HEAT: Mar. 18 in Chicago

Cory Nelson is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson. You can also check out his personal blog HERE.