The Indiana Pacers faced the Oklahoma City Thunder at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday night, falling 120-114 in a tightly contested game. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton endured a rough outing, 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 action.
After the game, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged the defensive pressure Haliburton faced, particularly from Thunder standout Lu Dort. “Ty only ended up with 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,” Carlisle said, reflecting on his star guard’s quiet performance.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shines for the Thunder
While Haliburton struggled, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a dominant performance, leading his team to victory with 45 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. Gilgeous-Alexander was highly efficient, going 11-for-11 from the free-throw line, in stark contrast to Haliburton, who was the only Indiana starter not to attempt a single free throw.
Haliburton’s Recent Struggles
Haliburton’s slump continued against the Thunder as he managed just two field goals and missed all four of his three-point attempts. His inability to get to the free-throw line underscored his struggles against an intense defensive scheme.
As his role grows, so does the defensive attention he draws from opponents. Entering his fourth NBA season, the 24-year-old guard is adjusting to being a focal point of opposing scouting reports. While these challenges are part of his evolution as a star, they have made it difficult for him to replicate the scoring success he enjoyed earlier in his career.
Growing Pains for Haliburton and the Pacers
Haliburton’s challenges are emblematic of the adjustments star players face as they become central to their team’s success. Such periods of struggle are common in the growth trajectory of elite players. However, these growing pains are also impacting the Pacers’ performance.
After finishing last season with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals and an NBA Cup Finals appearance, expectations were high for Indiana. Yet, as Rick Carlisle’s team is discovering, sustained development is rarely linear.
The loss to the Thunder snapped Indiana’s five-game winning streak, dropping their record to 15-16. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City, the Western Conference leaders, improved to 24-5 with their ninth consecutive win. Notably, the Thunder’s loss to the Bucks in the NBA Cup Finals does not affect their regular-season record.
The Pacers were outscored by seven points in each of the final two quarters but managed to keep the deficit to just six points. With two games in the next three days, including a matchup against the Boston Celtics, the team will need to regroup quickly as they prepare to face the squad that eliminated them in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals.
