Pacers Winning Streak Ends as Haliburton Struggles Against Thunder
The Indiana Pacers five-game winning streak came to an end as they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a closely contested matchup. Despite a strong team effort, the Pacers couldn’t overcome a surprisingly quiet night from their star player, Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton’s performance was the story of the game, as he finished with just four points on six shots. This marked his lowest shot attempt total in a full game this season and was a significant departure from his recent form. Over the past 15 games, Halliburton had been averaging 20 points and nine assists on efficient shooting splits.
The Thunder’s defensive strategy, particularly the efforts of Lu Dort, seemed to disrupt Haliburton’s rhythm. However, this alone doesn’t fully explain the limited shot attempts, as there were stretches where Dort wasn’t guarding him.
Despite Haliburton’s struggles, several Pacers stepped up. Andrew Nembhard had a strong game, while Pascal Siakam started hot with three early three-pointers. Myles Turner also had some nice moments in the second half against Isaiah Hartenstein.
The game was tight until the final minutes, with the Pacers leading by four with five minutes remaining. However, they couldn’t close it out against the Western Conference-leading Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was particularly impressive for OKC, finishing with 35 points on efficient shooting.
This loss serves as a barometer for where the Pacers stand against top-tier competition. While the defeat is disappointing, there were positive takeaways from their performance against one of the NBA’s best teams.
Injury Concerns
The game also brought injury concerns for the Pacers. Obi Toppin, who had been having an excellent month, suffered a left ankle sprain in the first half. Although he briefly returned to the game, he was clearly limited and didn’t play in the second half. His absence could significantly impact the Pacers bench unit and their up-tempo style of play.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Pacers performance against the Thunder, tune into the Locked On Pacers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Pacers Podcast:
• Defensive improvements from Myles Turner
• Benn Mathurin’s recent shooting struggles
• Preview of upcoming games against the Boston Celtics
