Celtics double series lead as Pacers’ Haliburton exits early

The Boston Celtics parlayed a 40-point performance from Jaylen Brown into a 126-110 Game 2 victory against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday to take a 2-0 series advantage in the Eastern Conference finals.

Pacers All-Star and All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton exited the contest in the third quarter due to left leg soreness.

Haliburton is dealing with a left hamstring injury and his status moving forward is to be determined, head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters, including Scott Agness. Haliburton missed 10 games in January due to that same ailment.

The Celtics trailed 27-22 late in the first quarter before ripping off a 20-0 run to give them a lead they would never relinquish. Jayson Tatum and Derrick White had 23 points a piece.

Boston dominated the interior, winning the paint battle 54-34, constantly using its big wings to penetrate downhill.

Meanwhile, the Pacers were led by Pascal Siakam’s 28 points on hyper-efficient 13-of-17 shooting. No other Indiana player added more than 16 points, with Carlisle clearing his bench early in the fourth quarter.

“We weren’t giving up. It was an opportunity to get some energetic, fresh guys out there to fight. And they did some good things,” Carlisle said of handing his bench heavy minutes in the final frame. He added Siakam “was very tired.”

Indiana trailed 2-0 in the East semifinals against the New York Knicks but stormed back to win Game 6 and Game 7 to advance.

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