Rick Carlisle reacts to Tyrese Haliburton’s brutal 4-point night vs. Thunder

On Thursday night, Rick Carlisle and the Indiana Pacers met the Oklahoma City Thunder at home and fell 120-114. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton struggled in the loss, finishing with just four points, two rebounds and eight assists. He shot 2-for-6 from the field and missed both of his three-point attempts in 35 minutes of play.

“Ty ended up with just four points and six shots, but they committed Lu Dort to him. And Lu Dort is as good a defender as there is in this league,” the Pacers said head coach after the game when he talks about his star point guard.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, on the other hand, led the Oklahoma City Thunder to victory over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, finishing with 45 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

Tyrese Haliburton’s struggles continue

Tyrese Haliburton struggled in 35 minutes of play, making just two field goals for four points and missing all four of his three-point attempts. He was also the only starter for Indiana who did not attempt a free throw. In contrast, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went a perfect 11-for-11 from the charity stripe.

Haliburton had the lowest plus/minus of all Pacers starters at -13.

The Pacers star began the 2024-25 season after winning a gold medal with Team USA at the Olympics. His inclusion on Steve Kerr’s roster highlighted a remarkable rise since his arrival with the Indiana Pacers. Recognized as a potential superstar, Haliburton is often considered one of the premier playmakers in the NBA.

But as his reputation grows, so does the focus from opposing defenses. To start the new season, the 24-year-old has faced challenges to reach his usual level of performance, especially when it comes to scoring.

Growing pains for Haliburton and the Pacers

Haliburton’s difficulties are simply part of his development. As a star player, he is now a primary target for opposing defenses. He has featured prominently in scouting reports and often serves as the engine behind his team’s offense. Because of this, his struggles can be expected. Many All-Star players have had to navigate similar periods of growth.

Nevertheless, this does not make things any easier for the Pacers. After finishing last season on a strong note with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals and a spot in the NBA Cup Finals, expectations were high for their progress this season. Rick Carlisle’s team was expected to continue to develop, but as Haliburton and his teammates are learning, development is rarely a straight road.

The Pacers saw their five-game winning streak come to an end and dropped their record to 15-16. Meanwhile, the Western Conference-leading Thunder improved to 24-5 and extended their winning streak to nine games. Notably, their NBA Cup Final loss to the Bucks does not count toward the regular season standings.

The Pacers were outscored by seven points in both quarters of the second half, but still only managed to lose by six points. With two games coming up over the next three days, they can’t afford to dwell on what might have been. Their next challenge is the Boston Celtics, the team that ended their season in the Eastern Conference Finals.