All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton has begun Year 4 like a man on a mission, averaging career-highs in points, FG%, 3P% and assists per game to lead the Indiana Pacers by example. He notched a new career-high 44 against Miami on Thursday night, yet Rick Carlisle’s men conceded 142 points – including 45 in the final quarter – to lose the first of a back-to-back slate. Tyrese clearly needs help.
Pacers must provide Haliburton with another option
- Pacers missed 20 shots (12-of-32 shooting) in the fourth quarter, while Miami were near perfect as a collective unit down the stretch (15-of-18)
- Haliburton, who had 28 points at half-time, was then double-teamed by the Heat defence and teammates couldn’t hit shots often enough
- He said this postgame, per ESPN: “Ultimately, it comes down to defence, we can score against anybody as a group but at some point this year, we’re going to have to get some stops to win games. That’s not on the coaching staff, it’s on us as players and you know, it starts with me.”
Self-deprecating but aware as usual after a tough road defeat, Pacers’ All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton could see the funny side and so took to social media following their 142-132 defeat by last season’s Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat.
Not for the first time – nor the last – Haliburton set the tone as Indiana began encouragingly away in Miami.
Ultimately though, Erik Spoelstra’s men – even with big man Bam Adebayo sidelined in the second-half through a hip knock – responded as you’d expect, erasing a 12-point deficit and toppling the plucky Pacers at home.
They got big minutes from rookie guard Jaime Jaquez Jr, unafraid to drive towards the basket or find scoring chances when a returning Jimmy Butler was off the floor.
Josh Richardson was efficient (19 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast) off the bench, while Caleb Martin (a game-high four turnovers aside) and Kevin Love made their presence felt as part of a second unit who flourished while Indiana flamed out.
Buddy Hield couldn’t make a shot (2-of-11 3PM), Myles Turner struggled and Bruce Brown not impactful enough so once they collectively doubled Haliburton, it was curtains. Head coach Rick Carlisle accepted as much.
“Fourth quarter was obviously very rough, we’ve got to play better overall, make more shots, defend situations better.”
They’ll get an immediate shot at redemption overnight Sunday (1am BST), but their high-scoring games aren’t sustainable and neither is a leaky defence that belies a 9-8 record with plenty to improve upon between now and February’s trade deadline.
Picture source: Getty Images
Mo and Sports 