Tyrese Haliburton smiled widely as he envisioned the scene when the Pacers host Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals to cap a daylong sports celebration in Indiana.

Would the Boston Celtics have beaten the Indiana Pacers if they made the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Finals? The Celtics, of course, did not, falling in six games to the New York Knicks in the '25 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals second round.

The Indiana Pacers stand just two victories away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000 behind a pick-your-hero approach.

After that incremental progress post-Pascal deal, Indiana jumped all the way up to 13th this season. And if you chop off those first 25 injury-plagued games, the Pacers rank seventh in defensive efficiency after early December — ahead of defense-first outfits like the Pistons, Rockets and Warriors.

Following his impressive performance on Friday night, Brunson has entered LeBron James and Michael Jordan territory. He became the fourth player with five or more 35-point and 10-assist games in the playoffs. James, Jordan, and Jerry West are the only other players to accomplish that feat.

May 21, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) shoots a three point shot against New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) in the fourth quarter during game one of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton was named to a 2025 All-NBA team on Friday. It's good news for the Pacers and Haliburton