Just days after delivering late-game heroics, Tyrese Haliburton looked far less like the Indiana Pacers’ franchise cornerstone in Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pacers’ star struggled to make an impact, finishing with a quiet 17 points.
Following the underwhelming performance, Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle stepped in to defend his All-Star guard.
Rick Carlisle Stands up for Tyrese Haliburton After a 17-Point Night
Game 2 was most definitely was not a great night for Haliburton. After the 123-107 loss, Carlisle spoke with the media, trying to defend Haliburton and diffuse the situation.
“There’s a lot more to the game than just scoring. Everybody’s got to do more,” Carlisle said.
Carlisle on Haliburton: “There’s a lot more to the game than just scoring. Everybody’s got to do more.”
— Tony East (@TonyREast) June 9, 2025
Carlisle’s defense of his star was understandable, but that alone won’t be enough to win the Finals. The entire Pacers roster struggled in Game 2, and they’ll need a much stronger effort, especially from Haliburton, if they hope to retake control of the series.
Haliburton finished Game 2 with 17 points, but he also tallied six assists, three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. He hit 7-of-13 shots from the field and was 3-of-8 from beyond the arc. On the flip side, he turned the ball over five times, which contributed to the loss.
Adding salt to the Pacers’ wounds – Haliburton scored 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter. By then, the Thunder were firmly in control, and there was no stopping them. After two Finals games, Haliburton is averaging just 15.5 points and 6.0 assists while turning the ball over 4.0 times per game.
That’s a far cry from his numbers in the previous round against the New York Knicks, where he put up 21.0 points, 10.5 assists, and just 1.7 turnovers per game.
Everything Went Tumbling Down for Haliburton and the Pacers
Overall, the Pacers lacked offense, right from the beginning of Game 2. They weren’t themselves in this encounter, like the previous one.
Pascal Siakam did not have a good game either, shooting just 3-for-11 with an overall lack of rhythm.
As Haliburton and team put their worst foot forward, league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took the opportunity to orchestrate the game his way for Oklahoma City. He scored 34 points in a statement performance.
The Pacers shot 45.1% throughout the game but were mostly playing from behind. The Thunder performed as if they could smell Indiana’s desperation early on. Oklahoma City took a 59-41 halftime lead, which put Indiana’s spirits in tepid waters, and never looked back.
After the game, even Haliburton couldn’t help but reflect on his and the team’s performance.
“I think throughout the course of a series, even in the games you lose, you’re always trying to learn — see where you can get better,” Haliburton said. “We had some success tonight with me playing off the pitch a bit more, flying around.”
That said, given Haliburton’s track record of delivering big performances, a bounce-back in Game 3 wouldn’t be surprising. With the home crowd behind him, he has a prime opportunity to regain control and help put the Pacers back in the driver’s seat of the NBA Finals.
