The Pacers are facing uncertainty about the availability of their star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton, for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals due to a hamstring strain. Haliburton is a crucial player in their fast-paced offense, averaging 20.1 points and 10.9 assists per game this season. If he does decide to play, concerns about his injury’s potential impact on his performance remain.
In Game 3, Ben Sheppard filled in for Haliburton but failed to score any points. Most of the point guard duties were handled by T.J. McConnell, who had an impressive performance with 23 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Meanwhile, Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis will once again be sidelined for Game 4 due to a strained calf injury that has kept him out for the entire series. Despite initial reports suggesting a possible return in this game, Porzingis is not yet ready to play.
Al Horford will continue to start and see significant playing time for the Celtics in Porzingis’ absence. In Game 3, Horford had a stellar performance, scoring 23 points and hitting 7-of-12 from three-point range. His contributions were instrumental in Boston’s victory over the Pacers and helped them take a commanding 3-0 series lead. The Celtics have the opportunity to close out the series in Game 4 on Monday before heading to the NBA Finals, which are set to begin on June 6th.
The Pacers hope that Haliburton can recover from his injury in time for Game 4 as they look to extend their season further than it has gone before.
The absence of both Haliburton and Porzingis could significantly impact each team’s ability to perform at their best during Game 4.
The loss of Haliburton would be particularly devastating for the Pacers as he plays such an integral role in their fast-paced offense.
On the other hand, Al Horford has proven himself as a valuable asset for the Celtics and could help fill some of the void left by Porzingis’ injury.
Overall, it remains uncertain how much each team will be affected by these injuries come Monday night when they meet once more on court.
