The Indiana Pacers finished second in the league in offense last season and eventually made the Eastern Conference Finals. Neither accomplishment would’ve materialized without Tyrese Haliburton.

But with each passing game in 2024-25, it’s getting harder to recall the 2023-24 version of Haliburton that led Indiana’s dynamic attack.

Through his first 30 games last season, he averaged 24.9 points, 12.7 assists and 3.6 threes, while shooting 40.8 percent from deep. For the rest of that campaign, he was at 16.5 points, 9.5 assists and 2.3 threes, with a 32.2 three-point percentage.

He was better during the run to the conference finals, but after going for four points on 1-of-7 shooting in Wednesday’s loss, Haliburton’s 2024-25 numbers have reached new lows. He’s at 15.3 points with a 28.4 three-point percentage while posting a career-low box plus/minus.

There are more fun topics for the Pacers right now. Pascal Siakam is playing like a fringe All-Star. Bennedict Mathurin is having a mini-breakout. And Myles Turner is a bona fide three-and-D weapon. But none of that takes Indiana back to the contenders’ tier without Haliburton playing at an All-NBA level.