Indiana Pacers All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton missed Recreation 3 of the Japanese Convention finals in opposition to the Boston Celtics on Saturday night time due to a hamstring pressure.
Haliburton’s availability for Recreation 4 on Monday can also be in critical query, sources instructed ESPN.
The Pacers and Haliburton will reassess the pressure forward of Recreation 4 earlier than making a ultimate determination on his means to play, sources stated. The Pacers intend to err on the aspect of warning with their franchise star’s harm.
“Tyrese very a lot desires to play,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stated earlier than Recreation 3 in Indianapolis. “He desperately desires to play. However the determination on tonight was taken out of his fingers earlier within the day. It was decided that tonight was not an possibility. He’s feeling higher; we’ll see the place he’s on Monday.”
Boston leads the best-of-seven collection 2-0, and the lack of Haliburton looms massive for the Pacers’ probabilities of getting again into this collection.
Haliburton — who missed 10 video games in January with the identical harm — aggravated the hamstring in Thursday’s Recreation 2 loss to the Celtics in Boston.
Haliburton averaged 20.1 factors and a league-leading 10.9 assists in a daily season that earned him third-team All-NBA honors. The Pacers are plus-59 with Haliburton on the ground this season and minus-35 with out him, in accordance with ESPN Stats & Data analysis.
In the meantime, Celtics guard Jrue Vacation was cleared to play about 45 minutes earlier than tipoff after being downgraded to questionable with a non-COVID sickness earlier Saturday. Backup large man Luke Kornet was dominated out with a wrist harm. Kristaps Porzingis (calf) stays out.
