Tyrese Haliburton stepped up in a major way throughout the entire postseason for the Indiana Pacers, inching closer to earning the "superstar" label and becoming one of the most clutch players in the league, but his magic might have run out, and his Game 5 performance in the NBA Finals may be proof of that.
Following their brutal Game 5 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pacers are now facing a series deficit for the first time in this year's playoffs, and they are on the brink of elimination. In the loss, Haliburton scored just 4 points on 0-for-6 shooting. This was Haliburton's first game since the Pacers' February 4 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he failed to make a field goal attempt. Additionally, the Wisconsin native recorded seven rebounds, six assists, and three turnovers in the loss.
It is important to note that Haliburton is dealing with a calf injury and is "not 100%," according to head coach Rick Carlisle (h/t Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files). Even so, he left a lot to be desired on the court, and he does not look like the same player who led this team to the NBA Finals, and that is a nightmare for the Pacers.
Tyrese Haliburton has had a rocky series so far
Through the first five games of the NBA Finals, Haliburton is averaging 15 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 4 turnovers per game. Additionally, he is shooting 45.3% from the field and 29.4% from beyond the arc. The 25-year-old is not necessarily playing bad basketball, but he is clearly playing a level or two below what he had done in the postseason before the NBA Finals.
Haliburton has had some great moments in the series (including hitting the game-winning shot in Game 1), but he has been up and down for the entire series up to this point. His aggressiveness and efficiency have dipped, and he has committed three or more turnovers in every game so far. For some context, Haliburton had committed three or more turnovers in just six games through the first three rounds.
It is too early to count the Pacers out of this series, especially considering how resilient they have been all season. They continue to shock the world and achieve the impossible, which they will have to do once again to secure their first-ever NBA Championship. However, in order for them to do it once again, they need Haliburton to return to form. Unfortunately for them, it might be too little, too late.