The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder are now tied 1-1 heading into Game 3 of the NBA Finals. However, the series could easily be 2-0 in favor of the Thunder if not for the Pacers’ historic comeback in the fourth quarter of Game 1.
The Pacers are playing with fire right now against a dominant team. They are simply not getting enough from the engine of their offense, guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton has been clutch throughout the entire playoffs, including Game 1, when he hit the game-winner with 0.3 seconds left on the clock. Despite that great moment for the Pacers, as they stole the game and home-court advantage, Haliburton hurt his team in that contest.
Haliburton came out timid, lacking that killer instinct for which he’s known. In the first half of Game 1, he only took four shots. He scored six points and only accumulated three assists while posting three turnovers.
That porous first half was overlooked after the game, but Game 2 was the same script minus the late-game heroics. He struggled again in the first half and lacked any sort of aggression that is needed to beat a team like the Thunder.
