Instead, a series of injuries have severely thinned the Pacers once-deep roster, Haliburton's shots stopped falling, the losses piled up and suddenly the straight-talking guy who inspired so many with his beaming, trademark smile didn't look or sound like himself.

Tyrese Haliburton hit nine 3-pointers in a 34-point, 13-assist effort in the Pacers win over the Pelicans Monday, a sign he's breaking through.

The 2024-25 NBA season has not started the way the Indiana Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton likely anticipated coming off of an appearance in the Eastern Conference