After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the Indiana Pacers are off to a disappointing 7-10 start heading into Monday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.
One of the reasons for the Pacers’ slow play has been the performance of star point guard Tyrese Haliburton. Amid reports that he has struggled with hamstring and back injuries, Haliburton has averaged 15.8 points and 8.5 assists, well below his 20.1 points and 10.9 assists per game. from last season.
However, if injuries have been holding 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 (he shot 9 of 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 triples were one away from the franchise record 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 last three games (average of 24.3) and is shooting 46%. (18 of 39) at 3s. The Pacers have now won two in a row after losing three in a row and five of their last eight.
After Monday’s game, Haliburton admitted to reporters that he was frustrated by his play and that the basketball was entering “work territory,” which created bad energy on the court.
Tyrese Haliburton just said a lot about what the first part of the season has been like. I was there for like 10 minutes. He said frustration got to him and basketball started to get into “work territory,” and he remembered the joy he has…
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) November 26, 2024
“I think what I have to keep is my joy for basketball,” Haliburton said. via Tony East. “Everyone wants to say: be happy and have fun. That’s hard to do when you’re losing.”
Myles Turner added 17 points and nine rebounds in the Pacers’ victory, while Pascal Siakam scored 14 with seven rebounds and seven assists. Quenton Jackson scored 12, making 4 of 6 three-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 had 23 assists last season and tied for ninth all-time.