Just over a month ago, on April 22, the prestigious American website The Athletic published the results of its traditional annual survey of 90 NBA players. And in it, Tyrese Haliburton had the dubious honour of being considered the most overrated player in the NBA by 14.4% of those surveyed
It is not known whether they chose the Pacers point guard because of his salary in relation to his performance, with $42.1 million (21st in the NBA), his sporting skills or his popularity, but 13 of the 90 players consulted pointed to him.
What is clear, especially after what has been seen in these playoffs, is that they were all wrong. Haliburton, who already had good numbers in the regular season (18.6+3.5+9.2) has matched them, even improved them if possible, in the playoffs (18.5+5.5+9.4). And with his historic performance in the fourth game against the Knicks (32+12+15+4 steals+0 turnovers), he goes straight into the NBA history books and silences his detractors.
Several historical records
In this game, there were several historic playoff records set by the Pacers’ brilliant point guard. He is the first to score at least 30 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds with 0 turnovers in a playoff game. He is also the first to score at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists and 5 three-pointers with 0 turnovers. In both cases, with NBA records dating back to the 1977-78 season, when the league began tracking turnovers, according to ESPN Research. Only Nikola Jokic in 2023 and James Harden in 2021 achieved the feat in the regular season.
But his historic game gave much more. He is the third player in history to have a playoff game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists. Before him, only the legendary Oscar Robertson (twice) and Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) had done it.
A first quarter like LeBron James
In addition, with his great start against the Knicks, he equaled two other historical records in the playoffs. With his 15 points, five rebounds and six assists in the first quarter, he became the second player ever to achieve at least a 15+5+5 in a single act in the playoffs since records began in 1998. The other was LeBron James.
And his contribution until the break, with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists, made him the second player in history after Russell Westbrook to record a 20+5+10 at halftime of a playoff game.
These are impressive numbers that Tyrese Haliburton achieved with the second triple-double of his career in a title playoff, also a record for his franchise, surpassing three players who had recorded one during their time in Indiana: Victor Oladipo, Paul George and Marc Jackson.
And with his controversial father in the stands
All this under the watchful eye of his father, John Haliburton, who had missed his son’s last eight playoff games after being banned by the Pacers after being involved in an ugly incident in the first round when he confronted Giannis Antetokounmpo after a game
He was in an upper box, though far from the stands and the court in case he suffered another outburst. His son Tyrese celebrated his return in such an important victory: “I’m glad my daddy is here. It makes it all the sweeter,” he said after the game.
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