INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton desperately wanted to help his teammates fight their way back into the Eastern Conference finals.
Others within the organization decided that he couldn’t, forcing Haliburton to sit out Game 3 against Boston on Saturday night.
The absence of Indiana’s All-NBA guard and clear-cut team leader because of an injured left hamstring was obvious in the second half, when the Pacers struggled to stay under control in a 114-111 loss to the Celtics, leaving them in a 3-0 deficit and on the brink of elimination for the third time in these playoffs.
Haliburton did what he could from the bench while dressed in glasses and a gold sweater, pumping his fist and encouraging his teammates, who certainly did their part.