Indiana Pacers faced a rollercoaster of emotions in Monday night’s 133-131 victory over the visiting Boston Celtics. The win was marred by the untimely exit of star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who left the game in the second quarter due to a left hamstring strain. The incident occurred when Haliburton was driving to the hoop, executed a sudden stop, and unfortunately slipped, leading to a dramatic split. Clutching his left thigh in pain, Haliburton had to be assisted off the court by teammates with 3:10 remaining in the first half.
Halftime brought disappointing news for the Pacers as they ruled out Haliburton for the remainder of the game. Despite his impactful seven points and six assists in just 13 minutes of play, the injury overshadowed individual achievements.
Coach Rick Carlisle described the moment as “very deflating,” expressing the team’s hope that the injury isn’t severe. An MRI scheduled for Tuesday will provide more insights into the extent of Haliburton’s hamstring strain.
Before Monday’s game, Haliburton had been a standout performer for the Pacers, averaging a team-high 24.2 points and leading the league with 12.7 assists in 32 games, all of which he started. His contributions were pivotal in the Pacers’ journey to the finals of the inaugural NBA in-season tournament. The team currently holds the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference.
Despite the setback, the Pacers exhibited resilience, rallying back in the third quarter after trailing 68-59 at halftime. The emotional game witnessed Bennedict Mathurin stepping up in a crucial moment, drawing a foul while attempting a 3-point shot with minimal time on the clock and the game tied. Mathurin’s successful free throws secured the victory for Indiana.
Coach Carlisle commended the team’s remarkable effort, acknowledging the emotional intensity of the game against the top team in basketball coupled with the adversity of Haliburton’s injury situation. The Pacers will anxiously await the MRI results to determine the path forward for their star guard and the team’s prospects in the remainder of the season.