INDIANAPOLIS — As expected, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton missed Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals because of a strained left hamstring that also forced him out of Game 3 against the Boston Celtics. A league source said Haliburton’s availability was in doubt if the Pacers won Game 4 and advanced to the series. Athletic,
The Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals by winning Game 4 105–102.
The Pacers’ star guard underwent an MRI on Saturday, which revealed a hamstring strain. The team has said Haliburton is improving, but there are fears of further injury at a time when the team is facing the longest stretch of difficulties.
Haliburton, who suffered the injury sometime during Game 2 of this series, missed 10 games in January because of a similar injury. He tried to return to the court after five games (about 10 days after the injury was first suffered), but after returning for one game down the stretch, he was again forced to sit out for five more contests.
With Haliburton out on Saturday, Indiana got a career-high 32 points from Andrew Nembhard and 23 from TJ McConnell off the bench. The Pacers led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter and by 8 points with less than 3 minutes to play, but eventually lost.
Haliburton, selected to the All-NBA third team this year, is averaging 18.7 points and 8.2 assists in the playoffs.
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