The Indiana Pacers will be without Tyrese Haliburton when they host the Celtics in Game 3 Saturday night, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
The starting All-Star point guard, who led the league in assists this past season, re-injured his left hamstring in the third quarter of Game 2 and didn't return -- as Boston took a 2-0 Eastern Conference Finals series lead following a 126-110 victory at TD Garden.
"He was unable to return, so it wasn't like it was a coaching decision not to play him," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said in Thursday's postgame comments. "He was unable to return, so we hope that this is a very short term aggravation. But, again, we'll know more tomorrow and then Saturday, obviously. The next game is coming quickly."
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported earlier today that Haliburton was "unlikely to play" in Game 3 with re-injuring the same left hamstring that forced him to miss 10 games back in January -- before posting he'd been ruled out altogether just a few hours later.
"We went over the game plan in both scenarios, if he is gonna play and if he's not," newly selected All-NBA wing Jayson Tatum told reporters Saturday. "We played in games without him and with him, so we’ve got some things that we worked on today and just ready for any scenario."
As for Game 4, Woj noted that Haliburton's status "remains in serious question" and that the Pacers will be cautious when it comes to dealing with this hamstring injury for a second time over the last several months.
In the meantime, the Celtics will be without Kristaps Porzingis for a ninth straight game as he continues to rehab a soleus strain in his right calf. While the C's are 7-1 in his absence, he did travel with the team to Indianapolis and is listed as questionable for Game 4.
Jrue Holiday is also questionable for Game 3 with a non-COVID related illness and should be a game-time decision if he plays or sits out.
Boston once again is looking to capitalize on another star player being sidelined, as they did in round one against the Heat with Jimmy Buter being out for the length of the five-game series and Donovan Mitchell missing the last part of that second round matchup versus the Cavaliers -- winning both series 4-1 respectively.
Game 3 in Indy is set to tip-off tonight at 8:30 pm ET from Gainbridge Fieldhouse and ABC will have the broadcast.
Joel Pavón
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