Rick Carlisle didn’t waste any time after the Pacers’ win in Brooklyn on Sunday night.
The message from Indiana’s coach was simple and loud when it came to Tyrese Haliburton: “He's back.”
Haliburton looked every bit like the engine the Pacers have been waiting for in the bounce-back win, piling up 24 points and 10 assists while shooting 8-for-13 from the field. He also chipped in two steals and finished at a team-best +29. The biggest moment, though, may have been the one that jolted the bench: an alley-oop finish that had Carlisle grinning afterward.
“There's a statement to be read there, and that is, he's back. He's back,” Carlisle said about his star point guard.
“That's the first off-two-feet dunk I've seen him have in the NBA. That's a very strong statement, and it was a momentum play too.”
He wasn’t done there.
On the dunk itself, Carlisle added, “Awesome. I don't mind stuff like that once he makes it.”
Haliburton didn’t dress it up much after the game. “Sometimes you just got to commit to the bit.
I just committed fully,” he said. “I think it was the ABA jerseys.”
That burst was part of a bigger night for Indiana, which got a balanced scoring effort and knocked down 21 3-pointers. Pascal Siakam scored 21, Obi Toppin had 16, and Andrew Nembhard, Jay Huff, and Kelly Oubre Jr. each finished with 14.
Aaron Nesmith added 13. The 21 made 3s is a number the franchise has reached fewer than 30 times in its history.
Carlisle said the shot quality improved as the game unfolded.
“We developed a good rhythm as the game went on,” he said. “I thought we took, for the most part, very good ones (3's).”
Haliburton’s overall start has been strong through three games. He’s averaging 21.7 points, 9.7 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 53% from the field.
Teammate Jay Huff said the point guard makes life easier for everyone around him.
“He makes the game easy,” Huff said. “It takes some time to figure out teammates you haven't played with, but he's easy to play with.”
There had been some speculation about whether the Pacers would hold Haliburton out of back-to-backs early in the season, but he said he will play in Milwaukee on Monday night. That keeps Indiana’s franchise player on the floor for another test, and it adds another sign that he’s all the way back in rhythm.
Haliburton also made clear that the focus inside the locker room isn’t on anyone else’s projections.
“We don't really care about outside expectations,” Haliburton said. “Our goal is to win a championship and we're just gonna take it day by day to get there.”
The Pacers go to Milwaukee on Monday to face former teammate Myles Turner and the Bucks, then return home Wednesday against LeBron James and the Sixers.
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The Pacers injury report is suddenly carrying more weight than usual ahead of their matchup with the 76ers, and Tyrese Haliburton is right at the center of it. Indiana listed the star guard as questionable with left hamstring tightness, a development that matters even more as the team tries to build momentum after a rough previous season and continues working Haliburton back into form following his torn Achilles.
Indiana is also dealing with several other injury concerns, leaving the rotation a little more unsettled than the matchup on paper might suggest. Philadelphia, by comparison, has a shorter list of absences with four players unavailable, so the Pacers may have to manage both the game plan and the roster picture at once before they even get to tipoff. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburtons Absence Leaves Pacers Facing A Brutal Early Test
Tyrese Haliburtons left hamstring strain has put the Pacers in an early-season bind, and the bigger issue right now is the uncertainty around how long theyll have to navigate without their offensive engine. Haliburton, who signed a five-year extension in 2023, has been driving Indianas attack again this season, averaging 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists while setting the pace for everything the team wants to do.
Indiana is already dealing with another major absence, with center Ivica Zubac sidelined by a left ankle injury, which only raises the degree of difficulty for a group trying to stay afloat while key pieces heal. For the Pacers, the challenge is not just replacing production, but reworking the rhythm of a team built around Haliburtons playmaking while waiting for a clearer picture on his return. [Read more 🡒]
Pascal Siakam Had Pacers Fans Cracking Up With His Rick Carlisle Tribute
Pascal Siakam gave Pacers fans a quick laugh during a recent press conference by arriving in costume as Rick Carlisle, channeling the coach in a nod to one of Carlisles most memorable media moments from his days with the Mavericks. Siakam even taped his mouth shut to mimic Carlisles famous reaction to questions about officiating after a playoff game, turning a routine interview setting into a bit of basketball theater.
For Indiana, it was the kind of lighthearted scene that can travel fast in a season still finding its footing, with the Pacers sitting at 2-2. It also underscored how quickly Siakam has settled into the teams orbit, comfortable enough to poke fun at his coach while giving the fan base something to enjoy beyond the box score. [Read more 🡒]