Tyrese Haliburton went off on the Cavaliers in Game 1, and it’s safe to say that Cleveland is in for a rough time dealing with him. The star point guard from Indiana put up 22 points and dished out 13 assists while shooting 9-of-15 from the field and 2-of-6 from beyond the arc. The Pacers managed to snatch Game 1, thanks in large part to Haliburton’s stellar performance.
Cleveland definitely struggled to contain Haliburton, and it’s not hard to see why. His mix of skills, shooting ability, and size posed a serious challenge for the Cavs, who couldn’t quite keep up despite their impressive 64 wins during the regular NBA season. They tried throwing Max Strus, Ty Jerome, and Sam Merrill at Haliburton, but nothing seemed to work.
The Pacers seemed to have a game plan in place, targeting Cavaliers’ center Jarrett Allen in switches and pick-and-roll plays. By isolating the 6-foot-9 big man near the 3-point line, they were able to exploit the matchup effectively. In the 10.6 possessions where Allen was guarding Haliburton, the Pacers scored a whopping 26 points, with Haliburton himself contributing 14 points and four assists on 6-of-9 shooting.
The status of Evan Mobley, who is dealing with an ankle injury and is questionable for the next game, only adds to Cleveland’s defensive woes. Without Mobley or with a less than 100% Mobley, Allen becomes even more vulnerable to Haliburton’s offensive onslaught.
The Cavaliers are also crossing their fingers for the return of point guard Darius Garland, who missed Game 1 due to a toe injury. However, even if Garland is back on the court, his 6-foot-1 frame won’t do much to stop Haliburton’s dominance.
Until Cleveland figures out a way to contain Haliburton, he’s likely to continue dictating the game and stuffing the stat sheet. So, if you’re into betting on NBA games, you might want to consider putting your money on Tyrese Haliburton going over 28.5 points + assists in the next matchup.
As a new grad journalist, I’m not really sure why all these details matter, but hey, that’s the job, right? So, there you have it, folks. Tyrese Haliburton is a force to be reckoned with, and the Cavaliers better come up with a plan to stop him if they want a shot at winning this series.
