Tyrese Haliburton scores 22 points to help send playoff-bound Pacers past Hornets 119-105

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton had 22 points and 10 assists, Aaron Nesmith scored 16 points and Pascal Siakam added 15 on his 31st birthday, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 119-105 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.

The playoff-bound Pacers have won three of four and eight of 10. They clinched their second straight playoff spot Tuesday when Atlanta lost to Portland. Myles Turner also had 15 points and nine rebounds.

Miles Bridges scored 18 points to lead Charlotte, which has lost six of seven. Seth Curry and Mark Williams each scored 16 points and Williams had 12 rebounds.

Indiana controlled almost the entire game after making seven 3-pointers in the first quarter.

Charlotte cut the deficit to four midway through the second, watched Indiana extend the margin to 64-49 early in the third and then charged back within one at 68-67. But Indiana closed the third on a 19-6 run to pull away and the Hornets never really got close again.

Hornets: Charlotte gave Indiana problems in the teams' two previous matchups this season, but this is a very different team than the one the Hornets faced in November and December. And it showed.

Pacers: Indiana, meanwhile, continued its hot shooting and strong regular-season finish. The Pacers started the day in position to earn home-court advantage in the first round for the first time since 2014 and delivered again with the stakes high.

A Hornets turnover led to a bounce pass alley-oop from Haliburton to Obi Toppin, giving Indiana an 81-71 lead and bringing the crowd to its feet. The Pacers only allowed one more basket in the quarter as they built an 87-73 cushion.

Charlotte had 18 turnovers, compared with six for Indiana, and the Pacers took full advantage by outscoring the Hornets 29-4 in points off turnovers.

Charlotte hosts Sacramento on Friday, while Indiana hosts Utah on Friday.

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Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) drives on Charlotte Hornets guard KJ Simpson (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) get a basket on a dunk over Charlotte Hornets guard Seth Curry (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) shoots over Charlotte Hornets guard Seth Curry (30) and forward Miles Bridges (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) holds off Charlotte Hornets forward Tidjane Salaun (31) as he drives during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) makes a pass over Charlotte Hornets guard Seth Curry (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) shoots between Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) and guard Josh Green (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) makes a pass over Charlotte Hornets guard KJ Simpson (25) and forward Josh Okogie (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Charlotte Hornets center Jusuf Nurkic (11) is fouled by Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) as he shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) strips the ball from Charlotte Hornets forward Josh Okogie (12) as he drives on Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives on Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy troops to quell persistent protests against the federal officers sent to Minneapolis to enforce his administration's massive immigration crackdown.

The threat comes a day after a man was shot and wounded by an immigration officer who had been attacked with a shovel and broom handle. That shooting further heightened the fear and anger that has radiated across the city since an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Renee Good in the head.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to invoke the rarely used federal law to deploy the U.S. military or federalize the National Guard for domestic law enforcement, over the objections of state governors.

“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State,” Trump said in social media post.

Presidents have indeed invoked the Insurrection Act more than two dozen times, most recently in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush to end unrest in Los Angeles. In that instance, local authorities had asked for the assistance.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison responded to Trump's post by saying he would challenge any deployment in court. He's already suing to try to stop the surge by the Department of Homeland Security, which says it has made more than 2,000 arrests in the state since early December. ICE is a DHS agency.

In Minneapolis, smoke filled the streets Wednesday night near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing gas masks and helmets fired tear gas into a small crowd. Protesters responded by throwing rocks and shooting fireworks.

Demonstrations have become common in Minneapolis since Good was fatally shot on Jan. 7. Agents who have yanked people from their cars and homes have been confronted by angry bystanders demanding they leave.

“This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in and at the same time we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to maintain order,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said.

Frey said the federal force — five times the size of the city’s 600-officer police force — has “invaded” Minneapolis, and that residents are scared and angry.

Homeland Security said in a statement that federal law enforcement officers on Wednesday stopped a driver from Venezuela who is in the U.S. illegally. The person drove off then crashed into a parked car before fleeing on foot, DHS said.

Officers caught up, then two other people arrived and the three started attacking the officer, according to DHS.

“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” DHS said. The confrontation took place about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) from where Good was killed.

Police chief Brian O’Hara said the shot man was being treated for a non-life-threatening injury. The two others are in custody, DHS said. O’Hara's account of what happened largely echoed that of Homeland Security.

Earlier Wednesday, Gov. Tim Walz described Minnesota said what's happening in the state “defies belief.”

“Let’s be very, very clear: this long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement,” he said. “Instead, it’s a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government.”

Jonathan Ross, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who killed Good, suffered internal bleeding to his torso during the encounter, a Homeland Security official told The Associated Press.

The official spoke to AP on condition of anonymity in order to discuss Ross’ medical condition. The official did not provide details about the severity of the injuries, and the agency did not respond to questions about the bleeding, how he suffered the injury, when it was diagnosed or his medical treatment.

Good was killed after three ICE officers surrounded her SUV on a snowy street near her home. Bystander video shows one officer ordering Good to open the door and grabbing the handle. As the vehicle begins to move forward, Ross, standing in front, raises his weapon and fires at least three shots at close range. He steps back as the SUV advances and turns.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said Ross was struck by the vehicle and that Good was using her SUV as a weapon — a self-defense claim that has been criticized by Minnesota officials.

Chris Madel, an attorney for Ross, declined to comment.

Good’s family has hired the same law firm that represented George Floyd’s family in a $27 million settlement with Minneapolis. Floyd, who was Black, died after a white police officer pinned his neck to the ground 2020.

Madhani reported from Washington, D.C. Associated Press reporters Bill Barrow in Atlanta; Julie Watson in San Diego; Rebecca Santana in Washington; Ed White in Detroit and Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis contributed.

A protester holds an umbrella as sparks fly from a flash bang deployed by law enforcement on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Monica Travis shares an embrace while visiting a makeshift memorial for Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A protester yells in front of law enforcement after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Tear gas surrounds federal law enforcement officers as they leave a scene after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Protesters shout at law enforcement officers after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Law enforcement officers stand amid tear gas at the scene of a reported shooting Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)