INDIANAPOLIS – As expected, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton missed Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals with the strained left hamstring that also kept him out of Game 3 against the Boston Celtics. Haliburton’s availability was in doubt had the Pacers won Game 4 and extend the series, a league source told The Athletic.
The Celtics won Game 4 105-102 to finish the sweep and advance to the NBA Finals.
The Pacers’ star guard underwent an MRI on Saturday that showed a hamstring strain. Haliburton is improving, the team has said, but there is a fear of risking further injury at a time when the team faces the longest of odds.
Haliburton, who suffered the injury at some point during Game 2 of this series, missed 10 games with a similar injury in January. He tried to return to the court after five games (about 10 days since he was first hurt), but was back on the sidelines for another five contests after returning for one game because of the strain.
With Haliburton out Saturday, Indiana received a career-high 32 points from Andrew Nembhard and 23 points from T.J. McConnell off the bench. The Pacers led by 18 points in the third quarter and by 8 with less than 3 minutes left but ultimately lost.
Haliburton, a third-team All-NBA selection this year, has averaged 18.7 points and 8.2 assists in the playoffs.
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