INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton had 29 points and 12 assists for his 16th double-double of the season, Aaron Nesmith scored a season-high 19, and the Indiana Pacers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-111 on Sunday.
Haliburton scored 17 points in the third quarter, when the Pacers (32-23) took a 101-83 lead. The All-Star point guard shot 9 of 14 overall with four 3-pointers.
Click to Gallery
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) blocks the shot of LA Clippers forward Drew Eubanks (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) shoots around LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) and LA Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (10) get tied up as they go for rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots in front of LA Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) gets a basket on a dunk in front of LA Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives on LA Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) shoots between LA Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) and guard James Harden (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers center Thomas Bryant (3) appears top draw the charge from LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The Pacers, who are an NBA-best 16-5 in 2025, had seven players score in double digits. Indiana center Myles Turner returned from a three-game injury absence with 17 first-half points.
The short-handed Clippers (31-25) were without leading scorer Norman Powell (left knee soreness) and No. 3 scorer Kawhi Leonard (left foot soreness). Powell averages 24.2 points per game, and Leonard 16.9.
That meant veteran All-Star guard James Harden looked to take more shots — he went 9 of 17 with six 3s to finish with 31 points and 11 assists. Ivica Zubac added 22 points.
Clippers: Leonard has played in just 16 games this season, but Powell's absence proved problematic. The lack of scoring options became increasingly evident as Los Angeles steadily fell behind.
Pacers: It's an ideal time to make a run, with two more home games this week and Indiana riding a three-game winning streak. And it helps to have Turner back after he missed three games with a cervical strain.
Haliburton buried 3-pointers on three consecutive third-quarter possessions as the Pacers opened a 90-69 lead.
Indiana made 13 of 20 shots to outscore Los Angeles 35-28 in the third quarter. The Pacers finished 46-of-84 shooting (54.8%).
The Clippers visit Detroit on Monday. The Pacers host Denver on Monday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) blocks the shot of LA Clippers forward Drew Eubanks (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) shoots around LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) and LA Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (10) get tied up as they go for rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots in front of LA Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) gets a basket on a dunk in front of LA Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives on LA Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) shoots between LA Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) and guard James Harden (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers center Thomas Bryant (3) appears top draw the charge from LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
President Donald Trump President Donald Trump wraps up a Mideast tour in the United Arab Emirates with a breakfast for business leaders and a visit to an interfaith place of worship named for the Abraham Accords he negotiated.
As part of the accords, the UAE and some other countries in the Middle East recognized Israel. Trump departs Abu Dhabi after his visit to the Abrahamic Family House .
During his visit to the region, violence flared in the West Bank, and Gaza. Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people Friday, adding to the more than 120 people who died in recent days.
Here's the latest:
“I think it’s time for us to just do it,” Trump told reporters in Abu Dhabi.
Trump reiterated that he wasn’t surprised that Putin skipped a U.S. orchestrated meeting in Turkey between Ukrainian and Russian officials. Putin didn’t want to go because he’s not there, Trump said.
Trump added that a meeting with Putin would happen “as soon as we can set it up.”
“ I would actually leave here and go,” said Trump, who noted his daughter Tiffany just gave birth to her first child. “I do want to see my beautiful grandson.”
Trump says he’s had an “incredible” trip to the Middle East but that “now it’s time to go back home.” He added: “My daughter had a baby and I’m going to go home and see that baby.”
Tiffany Trump gave birth to boy.
“She’s doing great and the baby’s great.”
An Israeli official said Cabinet members are meeting Friday to assess the negotiations in Qatar and to decide on next steps. The official was not authorized to brief media on the meeting and so spoke on condition of anonymity.
At an event to highlight business partnerships between the UAE and US companies, Trump gave himself a big pat on the back.
“I’m just thinking we have a president of the United States doing the selling,” Trump said to business leaders as they walked him through a presentation on investments that are benefitting the American economy. “You think Biden would be doing it? I don’t think so. But I think its so important. I have to be a cheerleader for our country.”
President Donald Trump has arrived at a business forum being held at Qasr al-Watan, a ceremonial palace in Abu Dhabi.
Trump entered and listened to a presentation from Sultan al-Jaber, the head of the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., as well as officials from Exxon Mobil Corp. and Occidental, two oil firms.
Al-Jaber then presented Trump a memento that included a drop of oil in it.
“This is the highest quality oil there is on the planet,” Trump told those watching.
He then drew laughter when he said: “And they only gave me a drop -- so I’m not thrilled.”
Hostage families called on their government Friday to work with President Trump to release those still held in Gaza.
A statement from the hostages forum, which supports the families said people woke up with “heavy hearts” amid reports of increased attacks across Gaza at the end of Trump’s visit to the Middle East. There were widespread attacks in northern Gaza Friday as Trump was finishing his visit to Gulf States but not Israel.
Israel says about 23 of the hostages are said to be alive.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed earlier in the week to push ahead with a promised escalation of force in Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip to pursue his aim of destroying the Hamas militant group, which governs Gaza.
The hostage families called on Netanyahu to “join hands” with Trump’s efforts to release the hostages.
“Missing this historic opportunity for a deal to bring the hostages home would be a resounding failure that will be remembered in infamy forever.
Trump is wrapping up his four-day visit to the Middle East, but he’s keeping a close eye on what’s going on back in Washington.
Before heading out Friday morning to the Qasr Al Watan presidential for the final engagements of his trip, the president took to his Truth Social platform to hammer “Radical Left Sleazebags” after Supreme Court justices on Thursday heard more than two hours of arguments debating how the lower courts should handle Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship.
“I hope the Supreme Court doesn’t fall for the games they play,” Trump added. “The people are with us in bigger numbers than ever before.”
President Donald Trump is kicking off the final day of his Middle East trip with a meeting of U.S. and UAE business executives alongside UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Energy, health care, aviation, entertainment and other business leaders will be in attendance to highlight ties between the two countries -- a central focus of Trump’s trip to the region. Trump will then tour the Abrahamic Family House, a complex that houses a church, mosque and synagogue and is a symbol of interfaith tolerance. Trump has encouraged other countries in the region to join the Abraham Accords and recognize Israel, as the UAE did in 2020. The president will then depart back to Washington.
Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people in Gaza on Friday morning, as U.S. President Donald Trump wraps up his Middle East visit.
An Associated Press journalist counted the bodies at the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, where they were brought. Survivors said many people were still under the rubble.
The widespread attacks across northern Gaza come as Trump finishes his visit to Gulf states but not Israel.
There had been widespread hope that Trump’s regional visit could usher in a ceasefire deal or renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza. An Israeli blockade of the territory is now in its third month.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the strikes.
President Donald Trump will make several stops before taking off on Air Force One to end his Mideast trip on Friday.
He’ll attend a business summit in the morning in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
Trump later will visit the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi. It is home to a mosque, a church and a synagogue. The UAE built it after diplomatically recognizing Israel in an agreement known as the Abraham Accords, as Christianity, Islam and Judaism are all known as the Abrahamic faiths.
Etihad Airways announced Friday it would purchase 28 wide-body Boeing aircraft during a visit by President Donald Trump to the United Arab Emirates.
Etihad is the government-owned airline of Abu Dhabi that also flies East-West routes like Emirates, the long-haul carrier in neighboring Dubai.
Etihad said in a statement that the sale included “a mix of Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft, powered by GE engines and supported by a services package.”
Boeing did not immediately acknowledge the deal.
Trump was due to address a business conference in Abu Dhabi on Friday, the last day of his Mideast trip that’s also taken him to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which booked a major Boeing order for its long-haul carrier, Qatar Airways.
Tia Goldenberg contributed from Tel Aviv
President Donald Trump and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan talk at Qasr Al Watan, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrive at Qasr Al Watan, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump and Sheikh Khaled Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, right, tour the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
