The NBA’s assists leader was in noticeable pain prior to exiting Monday’s contest.
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton’s standout fourth season encountered a concerning hurdle on Monday after the guard suffered a hamstring injury against the Boston Celtics.
The Pacers lost Haliburton late in the second quarter after a sequence that saw the dynamic playmaker awkwardly slide while driving to the rim. Haliburton appeared to be in immediate pain following the scary slip and eventually had to be carried into the locker room by teammates after staying on the floor for a few moments.
As the game returned from halftime, Indiana shared an unfortunate update on Haliburton’s condition, announcing the 23-year-old would not return due to a left hamstring strain. The 2022 All-Star ended his night with seven points, two rebounds and five assists on 3 of 5 shooting in 13 minutes of action.
Tyrese Haliburton had to be carried to the locker room after slipping and suffering an injury on this play.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 9, 2024
Hoping for the best ????pic.twitter.com/ZYGh2euvA3
Tyrese Haliburton being carried to the locker room after slipping on the floor. Hope he’s ok. ????
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 9, 2024
pic.twitter.com/4GKkZbQwME
Although the extent of the strain remains unknown, the abrupt exit and subsequent ruling him out for the game leave room for lingering questions regarding Haliburton’s status going forward. Not to mention, any absence for the four-year pro would leave a massive hole in seventh-place Indiana’s lineup amid a solid 20–15 start to the year.
Currently the NBA’s leader in assists, Haliburton has paced Indiana to success this year, averaging 24.2 PPG, 12.7 APG and 4.3 RPG playing 34 minutes a night.
