This season, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton had no choice but to spectate, watching his division rival, the Detroit Pistons, finish as the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference.
Now, the recovering star guard is watching two of his division rivals go at it in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
On Thursday, Haliburton spoke on the second round series ahead of its Game 2 tip-off.
Tyrese Haliburton Has A Positive Outlook On The Pistons
GettyINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 29: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers poses for photos during Media Day at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on September 29, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
It started with praise for Cade Cunningham.
“I think the good thing about the Pistons is that Cade is their guy, and they know he’s their guy, so it doesn’t matter what performance he has, if it’s positive or negative, he knows that his teammates are looking at him like, let’s figure it out,” Haliburton said on The Pat McAfee Show. “We’re riding with you no matter what.”
The Pistons nearly dropped their round-one series against the Orlando Magic as the top seed. While the Magic were the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, Haliburton cut the Pistons some slack for that series.
“I think [Cunningham] played pretty well. Turnovers were probably a little higher than he wanted them, but I feel like Detroit being a physical team, and Orlando being physical as well, that’s a decent matchup for them to go against,” Haliburton added.
“I feel like that’s why that series went so long, where I feel like they are the more physically dominating team in [the series against the Cavaliers]. I feel like that might be able to help them. I really feel like that will help a guy like Jalen Duren, too. He didn’t play probably how he wanted to in round one, but I feel like I can expect him to have a better round two for sure.”
The Pistons Are In A Good Spot
GettyMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 02: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons reacts after a foul call in the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on November 02, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
If the Pistons can grab a win on Thursday night, they would take a 2-0 lead over the Cavs–starting with the opposite performance of the last series.
But Detroit can’t get ahead of themselves. At this stage of the season, no team can be overlooked, and every game feels like a must-win as the room for mistakes is small.
The Pistons and the Cavaliers are set to tip off Game 2 on Thursday at 7 PM ET.