Pacers Star Poised to Return Against Celtics

Late in the second quarter of an early January tilt at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indiana Pacers' star guard Tyrese Haliburton's leg slipped out from under him as he drove to the basket.

Impressively, the hosts regrouped after their best player's departure, generating 44 points in the third frame, fueling a 133-131 win over the Boston Celtics.

The game ended controversially, with Jaylen Brown calling for his team to protest the outcome after getting hit on the head by Buddy Hield while attempting a baseline jump shot with the score tied at 131 and 03.2 seconds left in the matchup, only to see the call on the court overturned.

While the Last 2-Minute Report the NBA released the following day stood by that decision, it also marked the ensuing foul call on Kristaps Porzingis, sending Bennedict Mathurin to the line for the game-winning free throws, as incorrect.

As the two teams prepare to face either for the first time since that contentious ending, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Pacers are optimistic Haliburton, who has subsequently missed ten of Indiana's last 11 tilts due to a grade 1 left hamstring strain, will return to the lineup for Tuesday night's clash.

Boston, who hosts Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, will be in the second half of a back-to-back. The Pacers will have last played on Sunday, earning their third-straight victory, a 116-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Celtics, 35-11, sit atop the NBA standings, while Indiana, 27-20, is sixth in the Eastern Conference.

Further Reading

Jrue Holiday Hopes Celtics Tenure Extends Beyond This Season

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Top Heat in One of Their Best Performances This Season

Celtics Finding Joy in Basketball and Each Other's Company: 'We've Been Blessed'

Fixated on Winning, Jayson Tatum Again Proves He's Not 'Bored Making the Right Play Over and Over'

Brad Stevens Shares What Celtics Are Looking to Add and How He Hopes to Do So

Derrick White Opens Up About Journey from Uncertainty He Belonged in the NBA to an All-Star Caliber Guard

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'