The Indiana Pacers are expecting to have Top pick point monitor Tyrese Haliburton in the setup when they face the Boston Celtics out and about Friday night.
Haliburton was initially listed as questionable for Wednesday’s 118-114 victory over Toronto, but he was ruled out just before tipoff and missed his sixth game in a row due to an injury to his right ankle. The Pacers have a 3-3 record during that stretch.
During the three-week period in January when Haliburton was out with a sprained left elbow, Indiana (33-40) lost nine of 10 games.
In 54 appearances this season, the 23-year-old Haliburton is averaging 20.8 points, 10.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. On Feb. 23, when the Celtics defeated the Pacers in overtime 142-138, he had 22 points and 14 assists.
In Indiana’s victory over Toronto, Nembhard had ten assists and 25 points.
Indiana can fit the bill for the play-in competition that will decide the last two season finisher groups in the Eastern Meeting, however it requirements to make progress – – and hold it – – during its last nine rounds of the customary season. For the tenth and final playoff spot, the Pacers are one and a half games behind the Chicago Bulls.
The Celtics (50-23) defeated the Sacramento Kings 132-109 on Tuesday to end a six-game road trip. Jayson Tatum scored 36 points for the Celtics (50-23) in the victory. During the trip, Boston went 4-2.
After missing eight games with a hamstring injury, Celtics center Robert Williams returned to the lineup on Wednesday. In just under 21 minutes against the Kings, he came off the bench and scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Six of the Celtics’ remaining nine games are at home. Boston is attempting to catch Milwaukee in order to secure the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
The teams will play for the third time on Friday. On December 21, the Pacers defeated the Celtics 142-138 in overtime on the road, while the Pacers defeated the Celtics 117-112 in Boston.
