The Indiana Pacers needed a fast start in Game 3. Tyrese Haliburton answered the bell.
Down 2-0 in their second-round series, the Pacers are facing a must-win in Indianapolis. Haliburton started the game with the urgency appropriate for a playoff game like this, hitting back-to-back three-pointers in the first three minutes.
Then in the second quarter, he did it again.
Haliburton made five three-pointers and scored 23 points before halftime. He may have been primarily a distributor in Indiana’s first series against the Milwaukee Bucks, but against the New York Knicks, Haliburton has made himself a scorer.
He’s had to, because the Knicks aren’t easing up one bit with OG Anunoby out and Jalen Brunson playing through a foot injury. Through one half, Donte DiVincenzo scored 15 points, including some back-to-back three-point bombs of his own.
New York also got 13 first-half points off the bench from Alec Burks, who didn’t play at all in the first two games of the series. Burks was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 3-of-3 from the foul line.
Indiana finished the half ahead 63-58, while likely wondering how many Knicks would have to get hurt before they could finally have a comfortable lead in this series.