The Indiana Pacers did their job last night, defeating the Detroit Pistons at home. The Pacers had a shaky third quarter that needs improvement after the game, but they otherwise dominated for a 14-point victory. A comfortable victory over the Pistons, which Indiana has already done three times this season, is unremarkable for a Pacers club looking to make the playoffs. What stood out, however, was Tyrese Haliburton’s performance. Not only was his statistical production good, but he appeared to be the superstar guard who played every night until suffering a hamstring injury in early January. Haliburton ended the night with 25 points and 13 assists. 25 points is the highest he’s scored since the injury, and 13 assists is his second-best total in that time.
He blasted 10 three-pointers, the most he’s been able to do since the hamstring ailment, and dunked twice. It was unquestionably the most complete effort the star guard has given since his January 8 injury. “It’s critical that our guys feel well and are healthy. [Haliburton] had a difficult five or six weeks with the initial injury, the building to play, and then playing. So he’s been through a lot and did everything at All-Star Weekend. “To see him have two dunks and feel good about it is fantastic,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said following the game. Haliburton went through a journey to get here. He had a large minutes limitation for almost a week and a half after returning to play.
In the following games, he was allowed to play closer to 30 minutes, but his performance was not the same – he averaged 15.8 points and 10.8 assists per game while shooting under 44% from the field in the five games after his minutes limits were lifted. The top guard was playing, but he wasn’t having his usual impact. He didn’t have the same pop and energy as he did before the injury. His shooting and passing skills remained successful, but he wasn’t playing at the same level he had for the first 2.5 months of the season.
Last night marked Haliburton’s return to form after a lengthy All-Star layoff. It wasn’t much of a break for the Pacers’ guard, who played in multiple All-Star games and was the busiest man in Indianapolis. However, from a physical standpoint, not having intensive games or sessions was vital. He’s now totally recovered, or nearly so. “Around there. There will likely be some soreness tomorrow. “There’s been soreness throughout,” Haliburton stated Thursday night. “But this is the greatest I’ve ever felt and moved… That is a relief. I want to keep it that way as time goes on.”
Haliburton’s successive dunks were possibly the most promising evidence of his return. Before Thursday, he had 16 dunks in 2023-24, or less than 0.4 per game, but he had two on consecutive possessions against Detroit. Haliburton expressed how strong his leg felt after dunking in the All-Star game, indicating that he is regaining some of his burst.
Now he’s not as restricted. “I’d just say that as the game progressed, my explosive moves seemed to decrease. “I didn’t feel that in the moment,” he said of what he couldn’t accomplish previously but can now physically do. “I felt great. “I felt like I could get to every spot,” he explained. Haliburton added that the off-one-leg stepback three he does to his right, which requires leaping off his left leg, was available again Thursday night, among other moves he couldn’t do previously. All of that rehabilitation resulted in an important triumph. With Haliburton on the court, the Pacers outscored the Pistons by 12 points in a 14-point victory. His attacking performance was as remarkable as it had been in 2024, and it led the blue and gold. His teammates profited from it, as he provided 13 assists. Except for Obi Toppin and Doug McDermott, he threw one to every Indiana player in uniform. Everyone else received a bucket constructed by the star guard.
“Without him, we’re just a completely different team,” said reserve point guard T.J. McConnell, who also played well. “To have him back with no restriction, it just takes our team to another level.” McDermott, who played his fourth game with the star guard, agreed. “He is great. He always makes the proper play. He accelerates the pace. It’s a shooter’s dream to play with someone like him,” the experienced winger remarked. The Pacers often follow Haliburton, and his injury altered the course of their season slightly. They were tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference when he injured his hamstring, and they are presently in sixth place.
Wins are crucial as the squad strives for playoff success. They accomplished this on Thursday. More importantly, they witnessed Haliburton at his peak again. He can guide them forward.
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