Tyrese Haliburton has been a real standout in the playoffs lately, but he had a bit of a rough night on Friday. The Pacers were leading the series against the Cavaliers and heading back home, but Haliburton just couldn’t get it going in Game 3, resulting in a 126-104 win for the Cavaliers. Despite the loss, Indiana is still up 2-1 and has the home-court advantage thanks to their wins in Cleveland.
In the previous game, Haliburton surprised everyone with a clutch performance, scoring four quick points to secure a win for Indiana. However, in Game 3, he struggled to find his groove and make an impact. Let’s take a closer look at his not-so-great performance.
Haliburton’s stats for Game 3 against the Cavaliers are as follows:
– Minutes played: 30
– Points scored: 4
– Rebounds: 0
– Assists: 5
– Steals: 1
– Turnovers: 3
– Field goals made/attempts: 2-8
– 3-point field goals made/attempts: 0-1
– Free throws made/attempts: 0-0
His four points in Game 3 mark his lowest scoring output in his playoff career so far, with his previous low being six points in a game against the Knicks last year. While Haliburton isn’t always known for his scoring, as he was averaging 18.4 points per game before Game 3, his performance was definitely below expectations.
In his 23 playoff games, Haliburton has now failed to score in double digits three times, with this game being only the second time he didn’t make any three-pointers. Additionally, his single three-point attempt and lack of rebounds were also career lows, as he had previously grabbed at least two rebounds in every playoff game.
Looking ahead, Haliburton will need to step up his game as the Pacers aim to close out the series. Last year, after scoring just six points against New York, he bounced back with impressive performances of 34 and 35 points in Games 2 and 3. These remain his top two scoring games in the playoffs, showing that he’s capable of making a strong comeback after a rough outing.
Not really sure why this matters, but it’s clear that Haliburton’s performance in Game 3 was far from his best. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like he’ll use this as motivation to come back stronger in the next game. The Pacers will need him to be at his best if they want to secure a win and advance in the playoffs.
So, the pressure is on for Haliburton to deliver a better showing in the next game. Let’s see if he can bounce back and help lead the Pacers to victory.
