Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Has Season Breakout for Timely Mayhem vs. Knicks

On By Littum

INDIANAPOLIS – Tyrese Haliburton, among the Knicks’ biggest playoff woes last season, went into a deep slump on Sunday.

Then he snapped out of it with a season-high 35 points and 14 assists in Sunday’s 132-121 win over the Knicks.

“Look at the look in the eyes. It was as simple as that,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “I could come up with some other bullsh—but it’s just times when great players just have a look in their eyes that, you know, that they will be fantastic.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates a made basket in the second half against the New York Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn photos

“They are determined to not only have a great individual game, but to have a big impact on the game for themselves and their teammates.”

Before Sunday, the All-Star guard’s production was way off while averaging 14.7 points on 38 percent shooting overall — including an abysmal 25 percent from beyond the arc.

Carlisle unloaded all the excuses before the game, but didn’t need them after.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots the ball as New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (2) defends during the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn photos

“Look, he’s a great player and he’s going to be fine,” Carlisle said. “As I’ve been through it a few times now, this summer, even though he was on the Olympic team, he didn’t play much and he didn’t get much practice because he actually got injured when he was there.

“And then he dealt with another ailment into the fall.”

A persistent heckling fan near the bench went so far that the Knicks asked for him to be ejected Sunday.

But as Josh Hart told The Post, security didn’t oblige and the fan wasn’t removed despite it happening “like every other game.” Some of the incident was captured by the MSG Network, with video of Hart pointing to the stands.

According to one of nine rules in the NBA Fan Code of Conduct, “Guests will enjoy the basketball experience free of disruptive behavior, including foul or abusive language and obscene gestures.”

Caitlin Clark, who plays her home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Indiana Fever, was a front-row spectator to the Pacers’ victory.

The Pacers held a spot in their press room in honor of longtime Knicks radio analyst Brendan Brown, who died unexpectedly last week of health complications at the age of 54.

Brown’s seat was “reserved” with a framed photo of him with an MSG microphone. Brown, the son of former Knicks coach Hubie Brown, was on the Knicks radio broadcast for over a decade, replacing the legendary John Andariese in 2012.

Brendan Brown (L) and Mike Crispino attend MSG Networks’ 2014-15 season opener at Catch Roof on October 6, 2014 in New York City. Getty Images

The memorial service for Brown will be held Monday at Doyle Funeral Home in Morristown, NJ from 3 to 7 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 in St. Mary’s Abbey (Delbarton School) at 230 Mendham Road in Morristown.

Cam Payne is ahead of Precious Achiuwa in his recovery from a hamstring strain, according to coach Tom Thibodeau. Payne suffered his injury Nov. 1, and Achiuwa has yet to play this season after straining his hamstring in the preseason finale.

Thibodeau didn’t want to speculate on whether either will be available for Tuesday’s game in Philadelphia, but Payne sounds like a possibility.

“Cam is further ahead because he obviously does a lot more on the field,” Thibodeau said. “Precious has still not been approved for practice. He does a lot on the field, but he has not been approved for training. So there’s another step before we can say he’s getting close.”