Pacers Tyrese Haliburton enjoys Rising Stars, but his 'goal' is to be an All-Star

CLEVELAND — Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was going half speed, like all players do during the NBA's annual Rising Stars competition at All-Star weekend. But when Orlando rookie Jalen Suggs broke free for what would've been a game winning layup in the first semifinal game Friday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Haliburton's competitiveness kicked in.

Indiana's second-year guard, who was recently acquired in a trade with Sacramento, chased Suggs down and raked him across the arms. If Suggs was going to lift Team (James) Worthy to a win, he'd have to earn it at the free-throw line.

"I wasn't 'bout to to just let him lay it up for game," said Haliburton, who started for Team Isiah (Thomas). "They need to revise it next year. No free throws (to win). You have to check up every time. That'd be ideal so you'd have to get a real bucket for game. But yeah, I had to take (a foul) right there. No way."

Haliburton's hustle paid off with Suggs making the first free throw but missing the second, which left his team one point shy of the 50-point target score to advance to the championship. Team Isiah took advantage and rallied to win 50-49, closing the game on a 4-0 run behind a layup from Detroit's Saddiq Bey and and a pair of game-winning free throw's from Memphis' Desmond Bane.

Haliburton and Co. lost the title game to Team (Rick) Barry 25-20, but Indiana's budding star still didn't go home empty-handed. He was paired with former Seton Catholic star Bane for the Clutch Challenge, a shooting competition that required players to replicate five iconic playoff shots, and they smoked the competition.

Haliburton shot a perfect 4-for-4, while Bane drained the final and longest shot — reenacting Portland star Damian Lillard's walkoff 3-pointer against the Thunder in 2019 — to finish in a time of 39.1 seconds. No other duo cracked 40 seconds.

"We had a good strategy going in," Haliburton said. "I don't think anybody knew that you didn't have to do every spot simultaneously. So we asked a lot of questions before that locked us in."

Haliburton was a Rookie of the Year finalist last year, finishing in third-place behind Minnesota's Anthony Edwards and Charlotte's LaMelo Ball. However, they weren't able to come together for the Rising Stars competition due to COVID-19. This year, Haliburton said he enjoyed playing alongside Edwards, whom he described as the "funniest dude in the league."

Haliburton was one of two Indiana players who were selected for the Rising Stars event. Rookie guard Chris Duarte made the trip, too, but sat out due to a sore left big toe.

After getting his first taste of All-Star weekend, and last as a participant in the Rising Stars competition, Haliburton said he's eager to earn his first All-Star selection so he can play on Sunday rather than Friday.

"That's the goal," Haliburton said of competing in the All-Star game. "I'll be back. Don't know when, but eventually I'll be back, and I'm looking forward to it."

Follow IndyStar Pacers beat writer James Boyd on Twitter: @RomeovilleKid. Reach him via email: jboyd1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton gets first taste of All-Star weekend