Haliburton’s Quiet Games Are Costing the Pacers—It’s Time He Gets Loud
Let’s talk about what’s really going on with the Indiana Pacers right now—and more specifically, with their star, Tyrese Haliburton. After that electric Game 1 finish where Haliburton hit the game-winner, the expectations shot through the roof. But Game 2? A completely different story. He was quiet— too quiet.
Oklahoma City’s defense deserves credit. Lu Dort was glued to Haliburton all night, saying his job was simply to stay in front of him and make everything tough. And he delivered. Haliburton had just one field goal in the first half and five points by the end of the third. Sure, he finished with 17, but most of those came after the game was already out of reach. The Pacers lost 123-107, and now the Finals are tied 1-1.
It’s not the first time Haliburton’s been shut down in these playoffs. This pattern goes all the way back to Game 1 against Milwaukee, where he scored just 10. Then there was four points against Cleveland, and eight in a critical game versus the Knicks. For a team looking to win its first title, that’s a serious issue.
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And here’s the thing—Haliburton is not a scoring-first point guard. That’s part of what makes him special. He’s unselfish, he’s a facilitator. But in the Finals, that only gets you so far. His coach, Rick Carlisle, said it’s not just about points and assists—it’s about the whole ecosystem. Fair. But at some point, your stars need to take over. Haliburton needs to be the guy .
The Thunder's defense is real, no doubt. They’ve been the best in the league all year. But this is the Finals. You don’t win by hoping someone else steps up—you win by demanding the ball and making something happen. Pascal Siakam said it best: it’s not just Tyrese who struggled in Game 2, it was everyone. True. But Haliburton sets the tone. If he’s passive, the rest of the team feels it.
Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner, the whole squad—they’re all preaching adjustments, better execution, and getting into the paint early. The Thunder outscored them badly down low, especially in the first half. If Indiana wants to regain control of the series, that has to change. And it starts with Haliburton being more aggressive from the jump.
To his credit, Haliburton knows it. He’s not shying away from the reality. He’s studying the film, talking about learning where his spots are, and adjusting. That’s what great players do. But knowing isn’t enough now. Action has to follow. Game 3 is the first NBA Finals game in Indianapolis in 25 years. The atmosphere will be electric. The fans are hungry. The stage is set.
So here’s the bottom line: if Indiana’s going to win this thing, Tyrese Haliburton needs to stop being so unselfish and start being the star. Because when he scores early and often, the Pacers become a completely different team. The Thunder may have slowed him down in Game 2—but if Haliburton gets going early in Game 3, Gainbridge Fieldhouse is going to erupt. And the Pacers just might take back control of this series.
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