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Indiana Pacers can be without one of their stars on the way into a must-win game 6 at home in the NBA final on Thursday night.
Tyrese Haliburton, who has been crucial in Pacers’ Playoff’s success, is believed to have suffered a right calf strain, and ESPN reported that an MRI is needed to determine its difficulty.
In turn, Haliburton’s status of Game 6 remains a big question that threatens over Indiana.
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Indiana Pacers Guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives to the basket past Oklahoma City Thunder Tip Chet Holmgren (7) over the fourth quarter in match five of the 2025 NBA final in the Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams Preferred Pictures)
The damage took place in Game 5’s loss to Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, with Haliburton having only four points in 34 minutes on the floor. All four of these points came from the free throwing line as he missed all six of his shots.
Haliburton also ended with seven rebounds, six assists and a -13 plus -minus brand for the game.
Thunder beat Pacers into Games 5 of NBA finals coming within a win of the first championship
The damage is believed to have taken place while driving to the basket in the first quarter, which could explain Haliburton’s strangely silent evening at the offensive end. He went back to the dressing room after the piece, but returned to the bench shortly after.
Haliburton was wearing a winding around his calf, but he took it from the middle of the game.
It was originally diagnosed as veal density, but Pacers thinks it’s more than that. However, Haliburton told journalists that he intends to play the rest of the series.
Indiana Pacers Guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives to the basket past Oklahoma City Thunder Guard Luguentz Dort (5) during the third quarter of match five of the 2025 NBA final in the Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams Preferred Pictures)
“I wasn’t good tonight, but if I can go, I want to play,” he said.
“That’s the NBA final. It’s the final, man,” Haliburton added. “I’ve worked all my life to be here. And I want to be out there to compete, help my teammates in every way I can.”
It goes without saying how important Haliburton’s presence in Pacers’ start five is, especially when it comes to crunchy time in the fourth quarter. Haliburton has had enough game-winning buckets to last a whole playoff career, so much less only a stretch that includes Game 1’s heroic mid-class jumper to win it on the road.
Pacers have no respiratory room that needs to win the next two matches to secure the NBA title. Meanwhile, Thunder Momentum has even on the road on the road after the 120-109 victory on Monday night.
Indiana Pacers Guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) goes back to the team bench in the first quarter against Oklahoma City Thunder during match five of the 2025 NBA final in the Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams Preferred Pictures)
Through 21 playoff games, Haliburton has an average of 17.9 points, 9.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds for Indiana while draining 46.3% of his shots from the floor.
If Haliburton is not able to play, Pacers have a good depth, with TJ McConnell, which is likely to take over duties on the Point Guard.
