January 09, (THEWILL) – The Indiana Pacers suffered a huge setback during Monday’s clash with the Boston Celtics, as star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton, sustained a left hamstring injury that forced him out of the game. The 23-year-old playmaker had to be carried off by teammates after slipping awkwardly in the second quarter.
The Pacers later confirmed Haliburton had suffered a hamstring strain. He will have an MRI scan on Tuesday, to determine its severity. Haliburton had managed just 13 minutes on court before his premature departure, registering seven points, six assists and two rebounds.
His injury comes as a monumental blow for Indiana, with Haliburton spearheading their offense this term. He entered Monday’s match boasting averages of 24.2 points and a league-leading 12.7 assists per game. Haliburton’s sensational performances even saw him top fan voting for Eastern Conference guards in the first All-Star ballot returns.
Without their talented orchestrator, the Pacers – who lead the NBA with 126.8 points per game – face an uphill battle. Eighth-placed Indiana are also dubious defensively, ranking second last for points conceded. The onus now falls on backup point guards T.J. McConnell and Andrew Nembhard to step up.
The Pacers face the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, before a testing six-game road swing. Haliburton’s absence severely hampers their play-off chances in the hotly-contested Eastern Conference.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
