Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton had a rough night on Friday, going scoreless in a 123-98 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Playing 26 minutes, Haliburton missed all eight of his shot attempts, including seven from three-point range, and didn’t get to the free-throw line. Though he recorded five assists, his scoreless game left fans frustrated and quick to express their disappointment across social media.
On X (formerly Twitter), NBA fans didn’t hold back, with many calling Haliburton’s performance into question. Comparisons to players like LeBron James’ rookie son Bronny surfaced, with some suggesting that Haliburton “should be handing out waters and towels” or should “start cheering from the bench.” Others speculated on reasons behind the poor outing, pointing to everything from Haliburton’s offseason training with WNBA star Caitlin Clark to lingering effects from his stint with Team USA.
The Knicks quickly took control of the game, leading by only a point after the first quarter but steadily pulling away. Knicks stars Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart each scored at least 20 points, fueling New York’s dominant 98-74 scoring run after the first. On the Pacers’ side, Bennedict Mathurin came off the bench to lead the team in scoring with 20 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop New York’s relentless offense.
Haliburton’s shooting struggles have been apparent in the first two games of the season, with a 30.7% shooting percentage and only one of his sixteen three-point attempts finding the net. He’s also seeing fewer assists than last season, averaging just 4.5 per game. While he’s not reported to be dealing with any injury, these early shooting issues could reflect an adjustment period as he finds his rhythm in the new season.
After an impressive 2023-24 season where Haliburton averaged 20.1 points and 10.9 assists and led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals, his recent stint with Team USA at the Paris Olympics seemed like a natural boost for his career. However, sharing the court with stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant limited his minutes, and now the Pacers are waiting to see if their All-Star guard can regain his form. As Haliburton works through these early-season struggles, fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see if he can rebound and reassert himself as a top-tier guard in the NBA.
