The first two games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers have been packed with action. But along with the excitement, there have been some controversial moments.
Pacers" star player Tyrese Haliburton has been dealing with a back issue since the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks. In Game 2 against the Knicks, Haliburton got pushed from behind by Josh Hart, a moment that Pacers coach Carlisle sees as contentious.
Rick Carlisle calls out Josh Hart for this play
"The whole world knows that Haliburton‘s got a bad back. And Hart comes up and shoves him in the back"
(h/t @NBA_NewYork )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 9, 2024
While Carlisle hasn"t directly accused Hart, it seems like he"s suggesting there was some ill intent in the shove. This adds more drama to an already tense series between the Knicks and the Pacers. Hart isn"t one to hold back his feelings, so it wouldn"t be surprising if he responded to Carlisle"s accusation.
Uncertainty Surrounding Tyrese Haliburton"s Availability for Game 3
KANSAS CITY, MO – MARCH 15: Iowa State Cyclones guard Tyrese Haliburton (22) goes up for a dunk after the buzzer had sounded at the end of a semifinal Big 12 tournament game between the Iowa State Cyclones and Kansas State Wildcats on March 15, 2019 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
There"s some uncertainty about whether Tyrese Haliburton will be able to play in Game 3 against the Knicks. He"s been struggling with back spasms recently but hasn"t sat out any games in this series yet. After a tough Game 1, Haliburton had a strong performance in Game 2, scoring 34 points, dishing out 9 assists, and grabbing 6 rebounds. If he can"t play, T.J. McConnell is expected to take over as the starting point guard.
