Haliburton’s Role as The Heel at MSG
Tyrese Haliburton has taken on the role of “The Heel” at Madison Square Garden, especially after the Pacers defeated the Knicks in a tense seven-game series last summer, which had a bit of a WWE flare, particularly with Jalen Brunson involved.
The animosity from fans in New York toward Haliburton doesn’t quite reach the level of disdain that Reggie Miller inspired in the ’90s, but there’s definitely some heat. The Pacers are back in the playoffs for the second year in a row, kicking things off with a thrilling comeback win Wednesday night.
In a game filled with drama, Haliburton faced the crowd chanting “overrated,” yet still managed to hit a crucial three-pointer just as the regulation buzzer sounded, securing a 138-135 victory for the Pacers in overtime.
He even mimicked a phone sign to the crowd, thinking he had won the game before a review revealed his foot was on the line.
Haliburton went on to score two more points in overtime, finishing the game with 31 points—though that was still shy of Brunson’s impressive 43—and dishing out 11 assists.
“It’s definitely been a lot of fun,” he noted. “Last year’s series was exciting. We had ups and downs in Games 6 and 7.” Just before the current series, he reflected on the atmosphere: “I think I’m feeling a bit of dislike from the crowd, but that just makes it more enjoyable.” It’s interesting how he’s sort of embraced this rival, adding more chapters to what is becoming a storied competition.
Haliburton also joked about his dad being banned from the game due to an incident involving the Pacers and Giannis Antetokounmpo, which only added to the lighter moments of the night.
During last year’s playoffs against the Knicks, Haliburton, who is a two-time All-Star, averaged 21.3 points and 7.0 assists. Interestingly, he and Brunson were teammates for Team USA at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, though only Haliburton made the US Olympic team last summer.
Knicks vs. Pacers: Game Updates
In a recent matchup, the two faced off again in a lively atmosphere, with nostalgia from their WWE showdown last June still fresh. It was a physical game, with Brunson using a folding chair to throw Haliburton out of the ring, leading to Halliburton’s memorable quips about revenge.
Currently, both players are eager to help their teams break a long playoff drought. Haliburton started slow with just four points in the first quarter, but the Pacers were on fire, hitting 10 of their early shots. It’s fascinating to see how he adjusts after facing challenges; as Tom Thibodeau pointed out, when Haliburton finds space, that’s when he becomes a threat. Yet, he also encountered some rough patches, which the crowd certainly didn’t let him forget, especially when he missed a few shots later in the game.
