Pacers without Haliburton for Game 3: Can they overcome the Celtics without their best player?

In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Indiana Pacers faced off against the Boston Celtics. The Pacers were +1 in the 28 minutes that Tyrese Haliburton played, but they were -17 in the minutes he sat out. This stat is particularly important as Haliburton is considered the Pacers’ best player and the hub of their offense.

Unfortunately, Haliburton is out for Game 3 of the East finals due to a sore left hamstring, which is an aggravation of an injury he sustained earlier in the season. There are concerns about his availability for Game 4 on Monday as well, posing a significant challenge for the Pacers as they try to mount a comeback in the series.

Haliburton initially strained his hamstring against Boston on Jan. 8, which led to him missing 10 games. Even after his return, he was not the same player as before the injury. With the Pacers down 0-2 to Boston and facing a must-win game without their star point guard, TJ McConnell will be starting in place of Haliburton for Game 3. Despite his absence, Haliburton attempted to play through his injury in Game 2 and eventually checked himself out of the game in the third quarter.