When the visiting Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings try to snap a losing streak on Thursday night, they have more pressing concerns than Tyrese Haliburton’s postponed homecoming. Since being traded from the Kings to the Pacers in February 2022—a trade that sent Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento—Haliburton has developed into a rising star in the NBA. This season, the 23-year-old has led the Pacers to the NBA in-season tournament semifinals and to the top of the scoring statistics. However, on January 8, during a victory over the Boston Celtics, he strained his left hamstring. He has been ruled out for the remainder of this week and has missed Indiana’s last four games.
After defeating the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks despite the absence of their top player, the Pacers have now suffered losses of 117-109 at Denver on Sunday and 132-105 at Utah on Monday.
In the two losses, their scoring average of 107 points is over 20 points lower than their league-best 125.6 points.
The Pacers, already without Haliburton, have missed their last two games due to the absence of Aaron Nesmith, a crucial reserve, and were also without Bruce Brown, one of their best starters, in Utah. Following the Jazz defeat, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle identified a more serious problem. After trailing the Jazz 12–4, he remarked, “It doesn’t matter if we’re playing back-to-back, if it’s altitude, or anything else. We just want to start off games.” We must adopt the proper perspective.”
The Kings have dropped their last three games before starting a two-game homestand. They defeated the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets to start the five-game trip, but they were thrashed 112-93 in Philadelphia before suffering heartbreaking defeats to Milwaukee and Phoenix in quick succession.
