According to Shams Charania and Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered a hamstring injury in Thursday night’s 126-110 loss to the Boston Celtics during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals and will now likely miss Game 3 on Saturday.
With just less than three minutes left in the third quarter of the game, Haliburton left the game after limping to the locker room. The Pacers soon declared that he would not return for the remainder of the game due to soreness in his left hamstring. In 28 minutes, Haliburton recorded 10 points, eight assists, and four rebounds.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle mentioned post-Game 2 that Haliburton’s hamstring was already sore by halftime, yet they decided to let him play in the third quarter.
“He tried his best and gave it all he had,” Carlisle stated. “It wasn’t going well. So the trainers decided he needed to go back and receive treatment.”
The injury seemed to happen while Haliburton was defending Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. As he moved sideways, he took an awkward step and showed discomfort as he stumbled.
This situation is especially concerning for the Pacers since Haliburton had missed 10 games in the regular season due to a strain in the same left hamstring he injured on Thursday. After a remarkable start to the season, Haliburton’s performance dropped notably after his return from the injury at the end of January. There was some speculation that his early return was an attempt to meet the league’s new 65-game requirement for awards eligibility.
Despite the decline, Haliburton still led the league in assists per game (10.9) and earned a spot on the All-NBA Third Team on Wednesday, which triggered a $41 million increase in his contract extension from last offseason.
Haliburton has been pivotal to Indiana’s fast-paced offense, though his postseason has been inconsistent, with averages of 18.7 points, 8.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds on 49/38/85 shooting splits. His performance has been somewhat of a predictor for the Pacers’ outcomes, averaging 21 points in victories and only 16 points in losses.
With Haliburton likely out for Game 3, the point guard responsibilities are expected to be shared between starting shooting guard Andrew Nembhard and backup TJ McConnell. Before Thursday’s loss, Nembhard held a plus-23 rating in the playoffs and McConnell a minus-five, while Haliburton had a plus-59 rating. The Pacers will need their floor general if they hope to secure four wins out of the next five games against the formidable Celtics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Haliburton playing in Game 3?
Tyrese Haliburton, a Pacers star, will sit out Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday due to a re-injured left hamstring sustained in Thursday’s defeat to the Boston Celtics, according to league sources.
When did Tyrese Haliburton get injured?
Carlisle said that Haliburton’s hamstring injury occurred during a regular-season victory against the Celtics on January 8. He missed ten of the following eleven games. On Thursday, a video showed him writhing in discomfort after slipping while guarding Jayson Tatum. “Sore.
What time does the Celtics vs. Pacers start?
The Pacers and Celtics will meet at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, May 25, with a tip-off time of 8.30 p.m. ET / 5.30 p.m. PT.
