The Indiana Pacers have been trying to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference amid an inconsistent season. And now they're hoping that things won't get worse amid their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton was ruled out of the remainder of their game against the Cavs with a hamstring injury, as per Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files.
In 19 minutes of play, Tyrese Haliburton had two points, one rebound, four assists and one steal in the Pacers game against the Cavs before aggravating the hamstring injury. It was almost one year to the day that Haliburton first aggravated the hamstring against the Boston Celtics, per Agness.
Without Haliburton out of the lineup, second-year guard Ben Sheppard started the second half in his place. As of publication, the Pacers held a lead over the Cavs.
When Haliburton first sustained the hamstring injury in January 2024, it kept him sidelined for ten games. When he returned, he didn't appear to be as effective as he had been to start the 2023-24 season. It was the same hamstring injury that flared up again in the playoffs in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics.
Tyrese Haliburton's 2024-25 season with Pacers
After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the Pacers looked like they were on the verge of becoming a powerhouse in the East. They were getting a huge piece back in the lineup in promising young wing Bennedict Mathurin who had his second year cut short due to injury.
But their season has gone as anticipated. Things could be looking up though. The Pacers are currently 21-18 and in 7th place in the East standings. They've gone 7-3 in their last ten games and have won five straight.
Haliburton's play has picked up too during that five-game stretch. While there's no word yet on him possibly missing games, he had played in all 39 games so far this year, which led the NBA. He had been averaging 18.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 1.3 steals with splits of 44.7 percent shooting from the field, 36.3 percent shooting from the three-point line and 85.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line.