In back-to-back games to open the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tyrese Haliburton has gotten off to unusually slow starts, something he and the Indiana Pacers know needs to change if they hope to stay competitive in the series.
Haliburton scored just six points in the first half of Game 1 and followed that up with a mere three points at halftime in Game 2, a sharp contrast to the assertive, playmaking presence he typically brings to the court.
While he’s finished games more effectively, his early-game quietness has allowed Oklahoma City to set the tone defensively and stifle Indiana’s offensive rhythm.
After Game 2, Haliburton acknowledged the challenge and emphasized the need for him and the team to adjust earlier in games.
“They got a lot of different guys who can guard the ball, fly around,” Haliburton said, via Jamal Collier of ESPN. “I just got to figure out how to be better earlier in games. Kudos to them, they’re a great defensive team. But [I will] watch the film, see where I can get better.”
Haliburton acknowledged OKC’s strong defense and took responsibility for his slow starts. The Thunder have thrown multiple long, athletic defenders at him, switching assignments frequently and rotating quickly.
Their strategy has been effective so far, forcing Haliburton to find answers under pressure.
Despite the rough starts, Pacers center Myles Turner remains confident that his All-Star point guard can find his groove and that the team can better support him with execution and a commitment to paint scoring.
“With Tyrese, there’s plenty of formulas to get him going,” Turner said. “There are things we went over in our game plan that we didn’t execute well enough [in Game 2]. We’ll get them in the paint. We have been one of the better teams scoring in the paint all year and we have to establish that early. We only had four or six points in the paint in the first half, and that’s not Pacers basketball.”
Turner’s comments underline a key issue for Indiana: their failure to establish an interior presence. Known for being one of the league’s most efficient teams in the paint throughout the season, the Pacers were limited to just 4–6 points in the paint in the first half of Game 2, far below their usual output.
As the series shifts and the Pacers look to adjust, both Haliburton and the coaching staff will need to re-evaluate their early-game approach.
Whether through set plays designed to get Haliburton going early, improved screening, or better spacing, Indiana’s success may depend on reigniting their offensive identity, especially around the rim and through their lead playmaker.
Pacers fans can breathe easy. Tyrese Haliburton seems to be fine physically: https://t.co/cgULBHi5Vo
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) June 11, 2025
