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Former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton is Mr. Indianapolis, but can he conquer New York?
The Indiana Pacers’ star point guard has the game of his career to date Sunday in New York, a Game 7 against the Knicks
May. 18, 2024 10:07 pm
INDIANAPOLIS — Seldom has a zero gotten so much love and respect.
The jersey number worn by the most Indiana Pacer fans these days by an overwhelming margin is 0. The name on the back of those jerseys belongs to Tyrese Haliburton, former Iowa State guard who faces the biggest game of his career today.
Haliburton is in his fourth pro season, but first set of playoffs. Which was extended by at least two days Friday night when the Pacers beat the Knicks, 116-103, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to force something that is kind of magical in basketball circles: A Game 7 in Madison Square Garden.
That’s Sunday afternoon in New York’s storied arena. The winner advances to play the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
“I expect probably the most unbelievable environment I’ve ever played in,” Haliburton said after Friday’s game. “The Garden is a crazy place with a rabid fan base. So I’m excited about it.”
The Pacers are the No. 6 seed in the East. They took out No. 3 Milwaukee in six games, and now have the No. 2 Knicks in a one-game series.
Indiana’s star point guard played two seasons at Iowa State, then knew he was ready to go onward and upward. He was picked 12th in the 2020 NBA draft, by the Sacramento Kings.
Look at the list of the first 11 selections that year and see if there’s anyone other than top-pick Anthony Edwards of Minnesota who you would take over Haliburton today.
The next season, Sacramento traded Haliburton to Indiana in a multiplayer deal that got the Kings center Domantas Sabonis. It was a win-win, filling needs on both teams with stellar players.
This year, Haliburton became the first former Cyclone to start an All-Star Game. Last year, he was the first Iowa State product to play in one since Jeff Hornacek in 1992.
Haliburton, from Oshkosh, Wis., didn’t take the money and run from Iowa State forever. He still pledges his allegiance to the school. He said he still considers Brock Purdy, the former Cyclone quarterback who has shined with the San Francisco 49ers, his friend.
Haliburton even has a dog he named Ames.
But this guy is now Mr. Indianapolis. In this hoops-mad state, the people here immediately warmed to his basketball IQ and skills.
Friday, Haliburton had a game-high nine assists to one turnover, and was one of four Pacers to score at least 15 points. His regular-season averages were 20.1 points and a league-best 10.9 assists.
He is one of five Pacer rotation players in this series who are 25 years old or younger.
“We’re trying to build something special here,” Indiana Coach Rick Carlisle said.
The home team has won all six games of this series. Last Tuesday, the Pacers were embarrassed in Game 5 in New York, 121-91. Yet, Haliburton described Game 7 like it’s a Christmas gift he’s about to open.
“I’m really excited about it,” he said. “A lot of us, this is our first playoff experience, our first Game 7. We’ve got to be ready to go for 48 minutes. We haven’t won there yet, so we’ve got to prove we’re able to do that.
“When you’re a young, up-and-coming team, it’s easy to be like ‘Man, we’re never on TV, people never get to see us play.’ Well, you’ve got to earn it.
“I think we’re on our way to doing that by winning our first-round series, but you can continue to do that by winning this series.”
Carlisle has been an NBA head coach for all but one season since 2001. His 2011 Dallas team won the league title. Since he got Haliburton, the player has more assists than anyone else in the NBA. And he scores 20 points per game.
But Haliburton said “I don’t really trip off the box score or anything like that. It’s ‘How can I be aggressive?’”
“His aggression throughout (Friday’s) game was key,” Carlisle said, “because even when he wasn’t scoring it was leading to other good things for us.”
Game 7 in the Garden. Every possession will mean something, every battle for a loose ball will be intense.
“Me, as a basketball-watcher, Game 7’s are always so ugly,” Haliburton said. “So I expect an ugly game and I expect whoever plays harder will win.”
Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com
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