7:40 pm: Doctors informed Haliburton that his calf ailment would normally take multiple weeks to recover, per Shams Charania of ESPN (via Twitter). Given the stakes, the Pacers guard pushed to play.
5:52 pm: All-NBA Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton will suit up for Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Thunder on Thursday night, head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters (Twitter link via Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press). Carlisle added that Haliburton won’t face any sort of minutes limit (Twitter link via Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports).
It had previously been reported that the 25-year-old Olympian intended to give it a go, but his availability had not been confirmed. Haliburton had been considered a game-time decision to play through a right calf strain incurred in the first half of Monday’s Game 5, a 120-109 loss.
The defeat marked the first time Indiana had lost two consecutive games during its postseason run to the Finals this spring.
Across 21 contests in his second-ever playoffs, Haliburton has averaged 17.9 points, 9.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. Those numbers dipped a little in Game 5 when the former Iowa State star attempted to play through the calf injury.
Haliburton failed to connect on a single field goal attempt on Monday, finishing with four points on 0-of-6 shooting. He did chip in seven rebounds and six assists.
Indiana, playing in its first Finals since 2000, now returns to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on the brink of elimination. The Pacers trail the Thunder 3-2 in the series.
Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault, in his own pregame presser, anticipated that Haliburton would give it his all, per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star (via Twitter).
“We’re expecting his best punch,” Daigneault said. “Indiana’s a great team, we’re expecting their best punch.”
Its a do or die game so better play.
Hoping for game 7 but OKC winning tarnishes KD’s reputation a bit. Hope SGA brings home the title KD could never do.
Woo Hoo ….. the big Choke is coming.
I rather see it on the floor. Than choke on bench.
I’m an East guy. But Hali has made it easy for me to root for Thunder. Plus they play more like an East team. Defense matters ….
For push off free throw merchant Oscar winner?
WIN OR GO HOME ………
good thing Pacers are close
🏀🏀🏀🏀
You listening to Steven A …. Ya Heard….
I hated MJ cause he always beat us. Never hated his
game. Or what he is accomplishing
SGA is doing MJ shhh at 26-27 …. how can you hate that.
Jeez, any strong breeze and OKC gets a call.
At least on review they overturn.
Wow —- talk about Stealing the Thunder …….