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[Saba Sports News] Tyrese Haliburton delivered strong performances in the first two games of the Indiana Pacers’ Eastern Conference semifinal against the Cleveland Cavaliers—but Game 3 was a different story.
The Pacers were blown out 126-104 by the Cavs on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Haliburton struggled mightily, shooting just 2-of-8 from the field for 4 points in 30 minutes and finishing with a team-worst -20 plus-minus. Indiana trailed by 21 at halftime and never mounted a serious comeback.
To make matters worse, Haliburton declined to speak with the media postgame, drawing criticism for avoiding his press responsibilities. The Pacers’ PR team later said he would be made available on Saturday instead.
Friday marked Haliburton’s first playoff loss at home—and his lowest-scoring postseason performance to date. While his frustration is understandable, part of being a franchise cornerstone involves facing the media win or lose.
Haliburton had previously scored 22 points in Game 1 and 19 in Game 2 wins. The Pacers are hoping Friday’s quiet outing was just a blip, not a trend.