Tyrese Haliburton has always seen basketball through a unique lens, and after leading the Indiana Pacers to a stunning 121–112 Game 1 win over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, he summed up his role in the most relatable way possible:
“I don’t know, that’s my position. So I mean I feel like facilate at a high rate, just try to keep guys involved, just try to make the right play, try to take care of the ball as much as I can, and just help lead the team.”
“Being the point guard is like being the mom. Your job is to take care of everybody, so just trying to do that at a high level.”
That one quote encapsulates everything Haliburton brings to this surging Pacers team. In a playoff environment where stars often seek their own shots, Haliburton plays the role of facilitator, leader, and engine. Against a Cavaliers team that had steamrolled through the first round, Haliburton didn’t just show up, he orchestrated.
With 22 points, 13 assists, and three blocks, Haliburton etched himself into Pacers history. He became the first Indiana player to reach those totals in a single playoff game. It was a masterclass in poise, vision, and leadership.
He controlled the tempo, fed hot hands like Andrew Nembhard (23 points, 5-of-6 from three), and made all the right reads when the Cavaliers started to make their run.
Statistically, Haliburton’s playoff run has been exceptional. He’s averaging 18.3 points, a league-leading 11.8 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting a solid 45.1% from the field. More impressively, he’s only averaging 2.0 turnovers, a testament to his maturity and court IQ.
His 71 assists through six games put him alongside the greats: Rajon Rondo, Steve Nash, John Wall, Chris Paul, and Jason Kidd are the only others in the last 25 years to post 70+ assists in the first six games of a playoff run.
For Haliburton, it’s not just about production, it’s about impact. That job has taken on greater significance in this series. Without All-Star guard Darius Garland, the Cavaliers lacked their offensive rhythm. Haliburton took full advantage.
He ignited Indiana’s offense with pace and precision. The Pacers finished with 19 threes on 53% shooting from deep and a blistering 16-of-27 off passes, including 7-of-12 generated by Haliburton himself. When the game tightened in the fourth, it was Haliburton who buried a momentum-shifting three, then followed it up with a clutch block and layup to seal the game.
While Donovan Mitchell poured in 33 points, it wasn’t enough. Cleveland shot a season-worst 23.7% from three. Indiana, on the other hand, looked confident and connected, two words that define Haliburton’s style.
He led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, and now he’s gunning for a return. The Pacers may not be the favorites, but with “the mom” of the NBA running the show, they’re a threat to anyone. Game 2 awaits.
