The Indiana Pacers are facing an uphill battle in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, trailing 2-0 in the series and losing their All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton to a hamstring injury. Haliburton’s absence is a significant blow to the Pacers, as he has been a key player for the team throughout the season, averaging 20.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists per game. Without him, Indiana will need other players such as Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam to step up in a big way to have a chance in Game 3.
The Celtics have had a relatively smooth path to the Eastern Conference Finals, facing undermanned teams in the playoffs due to injuries. Boston played the Miami Heat without Jimmy Butler in the first round and the Cleveland Cavaliers without Donovan Mitchell in the second round. Haliburton’s injury now gives the Celtics a significant advantage, potentially making their path to the NBA Finals much easier. The Pacers will need a monumental effort to overcome the odds and stay in contention in the series.
Despite the challenges they face, the Pacers are hopeful that they can rally in Game 3 with the support of their home crowd. Indiana has been undefeated at home during their playoff run, and they will be looking to maintain that streak against the Celtics. However, with Haliburton likely to miss the rest of the series due to his hamstring injury, the Pacers will need to find a way to compete without their star player. The team cannot afford any mistakes in the playoffs and will need to play their best basketball to have a chance against Boston.
The injury to Haliburton raises concerns about his availability for Game 4 and the remainder of the series. He missed 10 games earlier in the year due to a hamstring strain on the same leg, which occurred against the Celtics as well. The Pacers will err on the side of caution with their franchise star, making his return uncertain. If Indiana can pull off a win in Game 3, it would set up an intriguing discussion heading into Game 4, but the odds are heavily stacked against them to continue their surprising playoff run without Haliburton.
Indiana put up a strong fight in Game 1 against the Celtics but struggled in Game 2 without Haliburton, ultimately leading to a 2-0 series deficit. With their best player sidelined, the Pacers face a daunting task to compete with the talented Boston team. The Celtics have been the top team all season and were expected to be a tough challenge for Indiana. However, the Pacers will need to dig deep and find a way to overcome the odds to keep their playoff hopes alive and make the series more competitive.
