Tyrese Haliburton is on fire. Although the Indiana Pacers' point guard didn't make the 2025 NBA All-Star team, he's since produced at an All-NBA level. Haliburton entered the Pacers elite with one stat during their 119-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday.
Not only did the Pacers sweep a Western Conference playoff team for their 2024-25 regular season series, but Haliburton played with poise against the sixth-best NBA defense regarding defensive rating.
Haliburton finished Monday's contest with a game-high 24 points, on 9 for 16 shooting from the field and a 3 for 7 mark from distance. He also produced a steal and a block, adding to his masterclass on offense. Relevant to his elite stats, though, derive from his assists.
The Pacers' guard dished 11 assists to only one turnover. Such a performance has become a signature for Haliburton, as he's progressed toward his All-NBA self after his subpar version shed its weak skin in the first few months of the 2024-25 season.
The double-double earned him the mark as only the third player in franchise history to notch 11 consecutive double-doubles. Jermaine O'Neal, Domantas Sabonis, Dale Davis, Detlef Schrempf, and Rik Smits round out the top five of the most double-doubles in Pacers history.
Related: How Obi Toppin Continues to Dominate Minnesota Timberwolves
Myles Turner and Haliburton are the next in line and are the only current Pacers on the list.
Since the All-Star break, Haliburton has averaged 21.6 points, 2.3 steals, and 11.8 assists, as the Pacers produced a 12-6 record. Thanks to such a stretch, the Pacers hold a two-game lead for the fourth seed over their rivals, the Milwaukee Bucks.
Although Haliburton hasn't hit Reggie Miller territory regarding historic relevance among Pacers fans, his efficiency, warm embrace of Indiana, and continued success for a few more seasons could bring the organization back to the 1990s.
Related: Pacers Myles Turner Challenges Spurs Victor Wembanyama in Key Stat
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This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 10:35 AM.
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