Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton joins elite company with huge game

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton goes to work Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton joins elite company with second straight 20-point, 20-assist game

By Jeff Smith | Last updated 12/30/23

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton has done more than cement his place as one of the best up-and-coming talents in the NBA; he's proven to be in the mix with some of the league's best point guards. And while the Pacers' run in the NBA In-Season Tournament put the entire league on notice, his two most recent performances are so impressive that they placed him among an elite group that featured just two players previously.

Haliburton posted his second consecutive 20-point, 20-assist performance in the Saturday's 140-126 win over the New York Knicks, scoring 22 points with 23 assists. This came just two nights after he scored 21 points while dishing out 20 assists in a 120-104 win over the Chicago Bulls and he is now the third player ever to post back-to-back performances of this caliber, joining Magic Johnson and John Stockton.

Players to have back-to-back games with
20+ Points & 20+ Assists:

Tyrese Haliburton
Magic Johnson
John Stockton pic.twitter.com/7eJX08LckZ
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) December 31, 2023

Haliburton is now averaging 24.6 points, a league-leading 12.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. He's been unquestionably the best passer in the league this season and leads the league in assists by an impressive 1.6 per game.

Haliburton looks like a lock to be an NBA All-Star, but he's made a legitimate case to be in the discussion for some additional hardware when the season comes to an end.

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