INDIANAPOLIS — It’s difficult to determine which part of the body hurts Tyrese Haliburton the most.
Foot? Back? Tendon?
But there is clearly nothing wrong with his heart.
The Pacers star showed plenty by rebounding from his offensive funk and leading Indiana back into this Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The sight of Haliburton driving with abandon to power Friday’s 111-106 Game 3 win over the Knicks, then having to steady himself on the rails as he strode up and down to the postgame podium, told the story better than words.
“My body is just overall right now,” Haliburton said. “I am in pain. But there are also guys who suffer. We need to understand that everyone is suffering right now. Thank goodness we have a day in between. I’m young, I’ll heal and be ready on Sunday.
Indiana enters the morning of Game 4 Sunday at 3:30 p.m. with a score of 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. It could have easily been 3-0 without Haliburton, who had 35 points, seven assists and two steals.
“I’m just on my way down,” Haliburton said, shrugging. “Be aggressive, be who I am.”
But Haliburton, who is dealing with a sore back, suffered a heavy fall to his tailbone with 9:25 to play.
Then he had a steal and layup with 7:42 left, but he rolled his ankle avoiding Josh Hart at the end.
He didn’t score again, missing his last three shots.
Haliburton is officially listed as questionable for Sunday with a number of ailments: lower back spasms, sacral contusion (basically a back bruise) and a sprained right ankle.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Knicks in the NBA playoffs
“He got banged up,” Carlisle said. “I hope he will be well on Sunday. I think it’s going to be difficult to keep him out of the game.
Indiana doesn’t just need the NBA’s assist champion.
They need him aggressive in Game 4 and beyond, the same way he was in Game 3.
Haliburton had his most points and shots (26) since his Nov. 30 loss at Miami, before his hamstring injury provided a clear dividing line for his season.
The All-Star has been a shadow of himself since that January 8 stump.
“Whether he scores a lot of points or not,” Carlisle said, “his aggression is going to be important every game.”
The Pacers need it.
Haliburton only made seven shots in the first round against Milwaukee, but grew in the series.
Then, after a quiet six-shot night in Game 1 in the Garden, he joined Steph Curry, James Harden, Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell as the only players to have consecutive playoff games with 30 points and six 3s.
“He adapts quickly. For a playoff rookie, he had to make some pretty big adjustments,” Carlisle said. “His aggression was very significant.”
And it will be in Game 4.
“(The 26) shots are the most I’ve shot in a very long time, maybe ever,” Haliburton said. “But whatever it takes to win, that’s how I approach these games now, especially after a tough first game. What impact can I have on the game? Some plays will be scored, some plays will be made easier, some games will be both, but whatever I have to do to win is what I want to do.
New York Post
