In the meantime, the Celtics performed with out middle Kristaps Porzingis (calf) and backup middle Luke Kornet (wrist).
Michael Marot | The Related Press
Tyrese Haliburton sits out Saturday’s Sport 3 towards the Celtics with left hamstring soreness.
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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton desperately needed to assist his teammates struggle their means again into the Eastern Conference Finals.
Others inside the group determined that he couldn’t, forcing Haliburton to sit down out Sport 3 towards Boston on Saturday evening.
The absence of Indiana’s All-NBA guard and clear-cut group chief due to an injured left hamstring was apparent within the second half, when the Pacers struggled to remain beneath 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 huge shot after huge shot. Myles Turner helped Indiana dominate the put up and management the glass. Pascal Siakam offered one other sturdy choice and collectively they helped Indiana construct an 18-point lead towards the group with essentially the most wins within the NBA this season.
Had a few bounces, or maybe calls, gone one other means, the Pacers may nonetheless be excellent at residence 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 may they usually did that,” coach Rick Carlisle stated. “There have been a variety of 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 lengthen the sequence.”
No NBA group has ever gained one from the deficit the Pacers now face.
If Haliburton wasn’t properly sufficient to play in Sport 3, the prevailing thought was that yet one more off day is probably not of a lot profit. And if the priority was a doubtlessly extra severe harm, would the Pacers take that danger 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 Sport 4 (8 ET on ESPN) — with or with out Haliburton in uniform.
“We’ve simply received to take a look at what’s in entrance of us,” Carlisle stated. “We now have one of the best 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, consider me, we’re going to go after them.”
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The 2024 NBA Playoffs Introduced by Google Pixel is underway.
Indiana's All-Star level guard leaves Sport 2 late within the third quarter and his standing for Sport 3 is unknown.
What phrase encapsulates the state of the Celtics, Pacers, Mavs and Wolves as they participate within the convention finals?
See which gamers took residence the crown for essentially the most defining moments of the 2023-24 NBA common season.
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