After last season’s run to the Eastern Conference finals, the Indiana Pacers were off to a disappointing 7-10 start coming into Monday’s matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans.
One of the reasons for the sluggish play of the Pacers was the performance of star guard Tyrese Haliburton. Amid reports that he was struggling with hamstring and back injuries, Haliburton averaged 15.8 points and 8.5 assists, well below last season’s 20.1 points and 10.9 assists per game.
However, if injuries held the two-time All-Star back, he may have finally broken through in Monday’s 114-110 win over New Orleans. Haliburton hit a season-high nine 3-pointers (shooting 9-for-18 from 3) and scored 34 points with 13 assists and three steals.
That’s one shy of his best point total this season, which was 35 against the New York Knicks on Nov. 10. And his nine 3s were one short of the franchise record he set last season.
Since scoring just four points in a 130-113 loss to the Houston Rockets on Nov. 20, Haliburton has scored a combined 73 points in his past three games (24.3 average) and shot 46% (18-for-39) from the field. 3s. The Pacers have now won two straight after losing three in a row and five of their past eight.
Following Monday’s game, Haliburton admitted to reporters that he was frustrated with his game and basketball entering “work territory,” which led to bad energy on the court.
Tyrese Haliburton just laid out a lot about what the early part of the season has been like. Went there for about 10 minutes. Said that the frustration got to him and that basketball was starting to enter “work territory”, and he reminded himself of the joy he has …
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) November 26, 2024
“I think what I just have to keep is my joy for the game of basketball,” Haliburton said, via Tony East. “Everybody wants to say be happy, have fun. That’s hard to do when you’re losing.”
Myles Turner added 17 points and nine rebounds in the Pacers’ win, while Pascal Siakam scored 14 with seven rebounds and seven assists. Quenton Jackson scored 12, shooting 4-for-6 on 3-pointers.
The Pelicans were led by Trey Murphy III’s 24 points, followed by CJ McCollum’s 23. Elfrid Payton dished out 21 assists, the highest total in a game since Haliburton notched 23 assists last season and tied for ninth all-time.
