Where's Haliburton?

Tyrese and the Pacers produce a dud in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

OKLAHOMA CITY – From game to game, the Oklahoma City Thunder know exactly what they’re going to get from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They’re going to get 30-35 points, a couple of assists, a few rebounds, plenty of free-throw attempts. That’s why he’s the top player in the league, beating out Nikola Jokic for the Most Valuable Player Award.

From game to game, the Indiana Pacers, 123-107 Game 2 losers at Paycom Arena Sunday night, have no earthly idea what they’re going to get from their on-court leader, Tyrese Haliburton. One night, he follows up an ordinary game by hitting the Game 1-winning shot that further cements his clutch-time legend, the next night, in Game 2, he disappears completely with five points through three quarters.

Let’s put this simply: If Haliburton isn’t averaging 20 points per game the rest of this series, now tied at a game apiece, the Pacers are in deep, long-term trouble. When he scores 20, they rarely – if ever – lose. Sunday in OKC, he finished with 17 points, but 12 of them came in the second half during extended garbage time, the Pacers consistently trailing by 15 points or more throughout the game. For all the bouquets being extended to Haliburton, the truth of the matter is, defensive ace Lu Dort has gotten the best of him, not only during this series but in the two team’s pair of regular-season games.