Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton shines in first NBA All-Star game
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton made the most of his minutes on Sunday night in his first-ever NBA All-Star game appearance.
The 22-year old guard checked in during the second quarter for his first action, and he quickly had seven points. Haliburton did a little bit of everything scoring-wise in the first half — he dunked, he tossed in a layup, and he buried a corner three. As far as All-Star game scoring methods go, the Pacers guard did it all.
In typical Haliburton fashion, his first offensive stat of the night was an assist. He whipped the ball into a cutting Anthony Edwards, which led to a dunk that tied the game in the second frame.
"It was fun. I had a good time," Haliburton said of playing in the game, per the Pacers. He had seven points, one rebound, and two assists at halftime.
Haliburton was drafted onto Team LeBron, and his team was crushed in the second and third quarters. Team Giannis carried a seven-point lead into halftime and a 17-point lead after three quarters. Haliburton's roster would need to step it up in the fourth quarter if they wanted to make a comeback.
Partially thanks to Haliburton, they were able to trim the lead. Indiana's star checked in during the fourth frame and put on a show, scoring 11 points in a five possession stretch for his team. He also tossed an assist to Julius Randle for a dunk in that span. Haliburton finished the fourth quarter with 11 points and one assist on 4/5 shooting, and Team LeBron won the quarter 34-26, but they ultimately fell 184-175 to Team Giannis.
"Make use of my minutes, just have fun out there," Haliburton said of the game. He enjoyed how loose the action was and spending time with other great players.
In the end, the Pacers star concluded the action with 18 points, one rebound, and three assists in 13:52 of playing time. He was a +9, which was a team-high for Team LeBron, though that stat is meaningless given the effort level of the game.
It was a great experience for the young guard. Being in that setting will help Haliburton as a player long-term, and it will boost his popularity. Indianapolis, where the Pacers play, hosts the All-Star game next year.
After the game, Haliburton shared with gathered media that he would be enjoying a dinner with his family and reflecting on his journey that led him to the All-Star game. Given that he is still just in his third season, there are likely many more All-Star appearances to come for Haliburton during his career. This was just the beginning of a likely accolade-filled career for Tyrese Haliburton.
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