The Indiana Pacers really put the league on notice on Monday, with the team destroying the San Antonio Spurs and rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama.
Tyrese Haliburton and company put up an absurd 86 points in the first half against the Spurs to get the week started and then ended up winning the game, 152-111.
It was easily the best performance of the season for the Pacers, as they ignored the hype of Wembanyama and his dominance defensively and went to work on a team that they knew they could beat in convincing fashion.
Along with that stellar performance by the Pacers, propelling them over .500 with a record of 4-3, Indiana continues to see Haliburton shine as the undisputed leader of this talented young team on the rise in the Eastern Conference.
Haliburton has put on a show this season and may start to get some MVP buzz if he can continue to play at the level he’s been playing at for the Pacers, as he’s accounting for 56 points of the team’s points per contest, with 24.0 points and 11.7 assists per game, according to Evan Sidery.
Tyrese Haliburton is generating an absurd 56 points per game this season.
Averaging 24.0 points and 11.7 assists on 49.0/40.0/92.9 shooting splits, Haliburton is taking the superstar leap.
The Pacers also rank No. 1 in offensive rating scoring 120.4 points per 100 possessions. pic.twitter.com/LeI0rgBeNB
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) November 7, 2023
Obviously, it’s incredibly early in the season, and anything can happen with a young team that is still trying to establish its identity, but it’s a good sign for the Pacers that Haliburton continues to improve while being up to the task of being the leader of this franchise.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Pacers can continue to compete with some of the best teams in the league and where this team might end up in the standings a few months down the road.
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