Pacers Guard Tyrese Haliburton Misses Game With Hamstring Strain

Tyrese Haliburton will not play Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers due to a hamstring strain.

The injury comes just four games into his return to the court after missing the entire 2025-26 season. Haliburton tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was scheduled to meet with a hamstring specialist, team doctors, and officials later on Wednesday to assess the condition. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle spoke to 1075 The Fan in Indianapolis regarding the situation. "We'll hope this hamstring thing is not a big deal or not any kind of a long-term thing," Carlisle said.

Haliburton has performed at a high level during his brief return. He averages 21.8 points, 9.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. His shooting splits stand at 51.6 percent from the field, 37.0 percent from three-point range, and 86.7 percent from the free-throw line. He also made key shots during the season opener. The Pacers face the Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, and Atlanta Hawks over the next week, creating a difficult stretch without their primary guard.

Indiana's roster is already thin. Ivica Zubac and T.J. McConnell are listed as out for Wednesday's game. Andrew Nembhard is questionable with a neck and back injury. Pascal Siakam is expected to assume a lead offensive role. The team will likely utilize more small-ball lineups with Obi Toppin at center.

Haliburton joins a large group of injured stars this season. Anthony Edwards, Jalen Williams, Paolo Banchero, Kawhi Leonard, Jaren Jackson Jr., Chet Holmgren, and Alperen Sengun are all out for Wednesday night games. Brandon Ingram, Jimmy Butler, Kon Knueppel, and Kristaps Porzingis have not yet made their season debuts. The high number of absences early in the schedule is closer to normal than the league might prefer.

The current injury trend raises questions about the physical demands of the modern game. Players push their bodies to move faster and more explosively, which may contribute to soft tissue issues. This dynamic makes the problem harder to solve than simple schedule reform. Neither the league nor the players have shown strong interest in changing the current pace. The modern era has proven that maximizing possessions through pace is the most effective approach, leaving no obvious fix for the rising injury rate.