Pacers Injury Report: Return Status of Tyrese Haliburton Tonight vs the Grizzlies

The Indiana Pacers and the Memphis Grizzlies will enter their second showdown this season severely short-handed. Their first match-up was a sweep for Memphis, backed by triumphant performances from Ja Morant, Desmund Bane, and Jaren Jackson. This time won’t be so easy, with Morant and Bane their key offensive tools injured. However, even in Indiana, things aren’t the best. Their break-out All-Star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton, was sidelined due to injury management.

Newly acquired Pascal Siakam will lead their effort against the Grizzlies. Indiana is on a back-to-back winning streak and will want to extend that, but Memphis has been on a three-game win streak despite being severely under-manned. Haliburton will continue his rest and recovery for his hamstring, extending his absence to a fifth consecutive game as of Sunday.

Meanwhile, Jalen Smith’s availability remains uncertain due to back spasms, with his status listed as questionable. Notably, Smith has faced similar uncertainty in the past two games but was ultimately cleared to participate on both occasions.

The Indiana Pacers are exercising caution with Haliburton’s return, opting not to rush him back into action. Since being sidelined from the lineup on January 21 against the Phoenix Suns, he has been evaluated on a day-to-day basis. Coach Rick Carlisle mentioned to reporters that while Haliburton is progressing positively, the team’s priority is to ensure he reaches full health before returning to play, emphasizing that he will only be back on the court when completely recovers.

This move by the Pacers to rest him isn’t unexpected, as he became an All-Star recently. Interestingly, a look at the voting will show just how impactful that was.

Newly minted All-Star Tyrese Haliburton shines

Based on the 2024 All-Star voting outcomes, Tyrese Haliburton emerged as the clear top choice among fans, media, and fellow players, unanimously securing the number 1 spot for Eastern Conference point guards. This remarkable achievement places him alongside the elite company of Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, the only other starter to achieve such unanimous acclaim across all three categories.

Read More: Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner Welcome Pascal Siakam With “Win Now” Expectations for Pacers

Haliburton’s stellar performance this season underscores his significant impact, highlighted by impressive averages of 23.6 points, 12.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game. Leading the league in assists, he has propelled the Indiana Pacers to the 7th position in the Eastern Conference standings, boasting a commendable 25-20 record.

Having inked a lucrative 5-year, $260 million max contract extension with the Pacers last summer, Haliburton has undoubtedly validated his value on the court. His focus remains fixed on breaking the Pacers’ three-year playoff drought and spearheading a deep postseason run this year. Do you think Tyrese will succeed in the post-season?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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