Just when it looked like the Indiana Pacers were starting to right the ship, the team once again find themselves in a slump. With their loss to the Orlando Magic last night, the Pacers are 5-6 on the season, having lost two of their last three games. Additionally, in the loss to Orlando, the Pacers only put up 94 points, their second-lowest total of the season.
As is the case with many of Indiana's games this season, there were some good parts and some bad ones to take away from last night's loss. Here are four major takeaways, including the emergence of rookie Johnny Furphy.
1. Johnny Furphy showcased his potential
Last night's game against Orlando marked Furphy's third consecutive on-court appearance (and fourth overall) for the Pacers. It was also the biggest role he assumed during a game so far. Coming off the bench, Furphy scored the first seven points of his career while shooting 3-for-6 from the field. Additionally, he recorded two rebounds and a steal in nine minutes.
just a 19-year-old scoring his first @NBA points 🥹 https://t.co/WsahBgQtoy pic.twitter.com/DUZqfYbOA7
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 14, 2024
While it was a short run, Furphy looked good in the minutes he played. He looked composed and polished, especially for a rookie who has not even turned 20 yet. After the game, head coach Rick Carlisle praised Furphy's performance and hinted at him getting more minutes in the future.
“He’s a very good player off movement. He’s got size. He’s deceptively tough,” Rick Carlisle said. “He gave us some really good minutes in the first half … You can see why we’re excited about him in the future and right now too.”
It is unclear where Furphy will stand in the rotation once players like Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard return. Still, he showed a lot of promise against Orlando and could be in line for a bigger role in the near future.
2. Tyrese Haliburton still has not figured it out
Tyrese Haliburton's 2024-25 season has been an interesting one so far, to say the least. In the Pacers' win over the New York Knicks on Sunday, the Wisconsin native recorded 35 points on 11-for-18 shooting, two rebounds, 14 assists, and two steals. He played an instrumental role in the win and looked like the MVP candidate many thought he could be. Against Orlando, however, he looked as far from an MVP-level player as possible.
Last night, Haliburton recorded nine points on 3-for-14 shooting, one rebound, 11 assists, and a season-high four turnovers. Haliburton has been painfully inconsistent to begin the year. Whether it is due to a potential lingering injury or not is unknown. Regardless, it is clear that something is up with the reigning assists leader. There is still time to figure things out, but there is reason to be concerned about Halburton's campaign.
3. Pascal Siakam is the team's most consistent player
On the flip side of Haliburton, Pascal Siakam has been tremendous for the Pacers this season. In his first full year in Indiana, Siakam is averaging 20.5 points on 55.7% shooting, including 47.2% from the three-point line, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. He has shot above 50% in all but three games this season and has looked solid in each aspect of the game.
Overall, he had another fantastic game against Orlando, despite only scoring three points and committing three fouls in the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, there is no denying that Siakam has been Indiana's best player this season. He is regularly one of their leading scorers and is incredibly reliable.
4. Bennedict Mathurin cannot go back to the bench
Once again, Bennedict Mathurin has established himself as a legitimate cornerstone for the Pacers. He has been excellent since taking on a larger role in the wake of the team's injuries, and that trend continued against the Magic. In last night's loss, he and Siakam were the only two Pacers to score above 20 points. Additionally, Mathurin grabbed 12 rebounds, tying former Pacers big man Goga Bitadze for the game-high.
Mathurin has largely assumed a larger role due to the absences of Nembhard and Nesmith. However, even when those two return, it is nearly impossible for the team to justify moving the third-year wing back to the bench. Regardless, it seems highly unlikely Mathurin will revert to a bench role regardless this season, meaning he should continue to have ample opportunities to showcase his potential.