Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton sits out Game 3 with left hamstring soreness

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton desperately wished to assist his teammates combat their approach again into the Jap Convention Finals.

Others inside the group determined that he couldn’t, forcing Haliburton to sit down out Recreation 3 in opposition to Boston on Saturday evening.

The absence of Indiana’s All-NBA guard and clear-cut crew chief due to an injured left hamstring was apparent within the second half, when the Pacers struggled to remain underneath management in a 114-111 loss to the Celtics, leaving them in a 3-0 deficit and on the point of elimination for the third time in these playoffs.

Haliburton did what he may from the bench whereas wearing glasses and a gold sweater, pumping his fist and inspiring his teammates, who actually did their half.

Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell made large shot after large shot. Myles Turner helped Indiana dominate the submit and management the glass. Pascal Siakam supplied one other robust choice and collectively they helped Indiana construct an 18-point lead in opposition to the crew with essentially the most wins within the NBA this season.

Had a few bounces, or maybe calls, gone one other approach, the Pacers would possibly nonetheless be good at residence this postseason. As a substitute, they’re 6-1.

“Our factor all yr has been simply to play on the degree and produce every thing you possibly can they usually did that,” coach Rick Carlisle mentioned. “There have been numerous issues on the market I disagreed with, like all Indiana fan would disagree with, however we’re going to be undeterred. We’re going to be again Monday evening seeking to lengthen the collection.”

No NBA crew has ever gained one from the deficit the Pacers now face.

If Haliburton wasn’t nicely sufficient to play in Recreation 3, the prevailing thought was that another off day might not be of a lot profit. And if the priority was a probably extra severe harm, would the Pacers take that threat in one other win or go residence state of affairs?

The Pacers already exceeded expectations this season by ending a three-year playoff drought, a franchise-record 10-game playoff dropping streak, and a decade-long quest to advance to the second spherical. They shocked many by reaching their first convention finals since 2014.

And whereas Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard additionally tried to assemble a roster able to succeeding if and when Haliburton went down due to an harm, Carlisle made one factor clear Saturday evening.

Indiana isn’t backing down Monday in Recreation 4 (8 ET on ESPN) — with or with out Haliburton in uniform.

“We’ve simply received to have a look at what’s in entrance of us,” Carlisle mentioned. “Now we have the perfect followers within the NBA right here. We’ve received the best basketball constructing on the planet. And we’ve received one other in entrance of us to go after these guys and, imagine me, we’re going to go after them.”