The Rockets’ latest chemistry experiment

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton wasn’t running from his scoreless performance against the New York Knicks on Friday. Instead, Haliburton vowed to work on his jumper and to get better.

“We just missed a ton of shots, and it starts with me,” Haliburton said. “I ain’t tripping. The great thing about it is tomorrow we don’t play. I’m going to get in the gym and I’m gonna shoot. We’re all gonna shoot and we’re going to be ready to go on Sunday (against Philadelphia.) … I’m gonna get a lot of shots tomorrow. I’m gonna get a lot of shots on Sunday and I’m gonna be ready to go on Sunday.”

Haliburton has opened the season hitting just 1-for-16 from behind the arc. That’s part of an overall 6-of-26 from the field for the All-Star guard.

Haliburton, who led the NBA in assists last season with 10.9 per game, had only nine total assists in the Pacers first two games. That led the All-NBA choice to say he played poorly all around in the loss in New York.

“Nah, hell no,” Haliburton said when asked if he thought he played well beyond his shooting. “I just was bad. It happens. I have to be better defensively. I felt like I was alright in my shifts but again, should rebound the ball better, take care of the ball better. Just keep us in a rhythm offensively.”

Nick Nurse stated that he didn’t know whether James Harden would play in the Philadelphia 76ers’ preseason opener on Sunday.

“I do not know. I think that we still got a number of people that we’re trying to kind of ramp up to get to Sunday, so I don’t know how that’ll go yet,” said Nurse on Friday.

Harden participated fully in Friday’s practice, though there are still concerns whether he intends to rejoin the team “in earnest.“

Harden still has yet to speak to reporters since returning to the Sixers.

Nurse admitted that he was still tinkering with lineups.

“I’ll probably push some lineups and rotations around a little bit on the flight here this afternoon. I think all that stuff’s just a little bit fluid. Again, see how everybody comes out of [practice] tomorrow.”