Tyrese Haliburton after Pacers stunned at home by Blazers: ‘It’s just annoying’

While the Indiana Pacers have been near the top of the Eastern Conference for most of the early season, they are still seeking some consistency.

The latest example came courtesy of a 114-110 home upset loss to the struggling Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. 

As relayed by Scott Agness of FieldHouse Files, the Pacers have spent the past eight games alternating wins and losses. They’ve also lost three of four in their own building, Agness noted.

“This is a bad loss,” said point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who continued his torrid start with 33 points and nine assists, via Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star. “This a really bad loss for us. … It’s just annoying. Frustrating. All of those emotions.”

Perhaps worse, the game-sealing jumper was buried by none other than former Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon, now of the Blazers. 

That aside, Haliburton is right. And Indiana will have to start showing some sort of consistency if it hopes to be taken seriously. Or even for the Pacers to take themselves seriously.

Forward Jerami Grant led Portland (5-12) with 34 points. Deandre Ayton added 22 points and 13 rebounds and Brogdon scored 24.

“We didn’t give it to them. They earned it, but we gotta start learning some lessons here,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, via Dopirak. “It’s just too costly.”