In Atlanta, the Indiana Pacers faced the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night without the presence of their guard, Tyrese Haliburton, due to a hip injury. Haliburton has been recognized as a two-time All-Star and has only missed two games so far this season. Despite his usual determination to compete, he had been categorized as questionable due to a left hip flexor strain and was observed on the sidelines in casual attire.
The Pacers were also short-handed without Bennedict Mathurin, who was absent for his fourth consecutive game owing to a sprained right wrist. Haliburton has been a key player for the team, consistently performing well since the All-Star break, with an average of 23.9 points and 12.0 assists per game. His shooting accuracy has been remarkable, hitting 54.5% from beyond the three-point line. Just days prior, Haliburton delivered an impressive 28 points and 15 assists, leading his team to a 115-102 victory over Houston. For the season, he has maintained an average of 18.5 points and 8.9 assists over 59 games.
Before the game, Coach Rick Carlisle mentioned that Haliburton has been managing left leg soreness and highlighted that the team is opting for a cautious, game-by-game evaluation of his condition.
