NBA Rumors: Tyrese Haliburton Out for Pacers vs. Celtics Game 3 with Injury

The Indiana Pacers will be missing a key piece against the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton will not play against the Celtics on Saturday night due to a hamstring injury and his status for Game 4. "also remains in serious question."

The 24-year-old's injury flared up in the second half of Game 2 against Boston, as he sat out during the entire fourth quarter due to hamstring issues.

Per Charania and Vardon, Haliburton underwent an MRI on Saturday that showed a strain and he's currently considered "day to day." He was reportedly "hoping to play" in Game 3, but doctors ultimately made the call to keep him out.

Haliburton previously suffered a hamstring strain on Jan. 8 and missed 10 games as a result. After Indiana's 126-110 defeat on Thursday, head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that he aggravated the prior injury (h/t ESPN's Jamal Collier).

If he's unable to suit up, it'll be a tough blow to a Pacers team that relies on Haliburton as an offensive engine. In 14 playoff appearances before Game 2, he averaged 19.3 points and 8.2 assists each night on 48.8/38.1/85.0 shooting splits.

He's also been growing more comfortable in a postseason setting, shooting at least 50 percent from the field in seven of his past eight playoff games.

However, Indiana still has a shot without the team's lead guard. The Pacers went 6-4 in the 10-game stretch that Haliburton missed earlier in the season, including impressive wins over playoff teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns.

They also boast one of the NBA's top backup point guards in T.J. McConnell, who is averaging 10.8 points and 5.1 assists in just 19.6 minutes per game for Indiana during the postseason.

The Pacers will attempt to stay unbeaten at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the 2024 playoffs on Saturday night, even if they're shorthanded. Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m. ET.