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 battle their manner again into the Japanese Convention Finals.

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

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

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

Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell made massive shot after massive shot. Myles Turner helped Indiana dominate the put up and management the glass. Pascal Siakam offered one other robust possibility and collectively they helped Indiana construct an 18-point lead towards the staff with essentially the most wins within the NBA this season.

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

“Our factor all 12 months has been simply to play on the stage and convey all the pieces you possibly can and so they did that,” coach Rick Carlisle stated. “There have been numerous issues on the market I disagreed with, like several Indiana fan would disagree with, however we’re going to be undeterred. We’re going to be again Monday evening seeking to prolong the sequence.”

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

If Haliburton wasn’t effectively sufficient to play in Recreation 3, the prevailing thought was that another off day will not be of a lot profit. And if the priority was a doubtlessly extra critical damage, would the Pacers take that danger in one other win or go house situation?

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 stunned 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 damage, 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 acquired to have a look at what’s in entrance of us,” Carlisle stated. “We have now the very best followers within the NBA right here. We’ve acquired the best basketball constructing on the planet. And we’ve acquired one other in entrance of us to go after these guys and, consider me, we’re going to go after them.”