As the Indiana Pacers return home down 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals, they will be without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton for Game 3 Saturday, according to reports.
Haliburton left Game 2 in the third quarter with a left hamstring injury and did not return. He finished with 10 points in 28 minutes but had just two points after halftime.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said the hamstring injury was the same one Haliburton injured during a Jan. 8 regular-season win over the Celtics. He missed 10 of the following 11 games. Video from Thursday showed him wincing in pain after stumbling while defending Jayson Tatum.
“Sore. Aggravated. I don’t have much detail other than it’s sore,” Carlisle said.
Former Toronto Raptor Pascal Siakam led Indiana in scoring in the Game 2 loss with 28 points. After the game, he said the Pacers are prepared to bounce back even if Haliburton is out.
“We need Ty, but next man mentality. We’ve got to play together,” he said. “This team got where we’re at by playing together. … It’s on us to continue to play and bring that energy.”
The Celtics lead the series 2-0 with the next two games being played in Indianapolis, where the Pacers are a perfect 6-0 this post-season.
— With files from The Associated Press
