Two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton is not happy with how the Indiana Pacers have played so far this season.
“The product we’re putting on the floor right now as a group is embarrassing,” Haliburton said after Indiana lost 122-111 to the Toronto Raptors in an NBA Cup game on Tuesday night.
Indiana has a 2-10 record on the road and has lost seven straight games away from home since their win against Dallas on Nov. 4.
“There needs to be a reality check right now,” Haliburton said. “Individually and collectively, guys need to look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves what they can do better. And it starts with me. I have to be a better leader.”
The Pacers had a strong season last year, finishing with a 47-35 record and making the playoffs for the first time since 2020. They won playoff series against Milwaukee and New York before getting swept by Boston in the Eastern Conference finals.
Earlier in the previous season, the Pacers reached the championship game of the NBA’s first In-Season Tournament. This year, however, they lost all four of their group games by a combined 60 points.
The Pacers struggled in the first half against Toronto, committing 17 turnovers.
“We’ve had too many stretches like that,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “We all own it and we need to fix it.”
Indiana did better in the second half, outscoring Toronto 63-57, but it wasn’t enough to win.
After Tuesday’s loss, the Pacers were ranked 10th in the Eastern Conference, just half a game ahead of Detroit. They will try to end their road losing streak when they play Brooklyn on Wednesday night.
