OKLAHOMA CITY — The Indiana Pacers had all sorts of reasons for offseason nightmares even before the ball went up in Game 5 of these fantastic NBA Finals on Monday night.
If only they’d held that double-digit, third-quarter lead in Game 4 three nights before in Indianapolis, where the prospect of this historically great Oklahoma City Thunder team falling into a 3-1 series hole seemed so real before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took over late. The encore fading wasn’t quite as dramatic, with the Thunder pulling away late in their 120-109 win that puts them one win away from their first title, but the theme most certainly remained.
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These Pacers, who were such heavy underdogs coming into this matchup, continue to blow opportunities that might keep them from pulling off one of the greatest upsets in league history. And with Tyrese Haliburton’s health now in question after he injured his right leg in the first quarter and labored his way through the last three, all signs point to this being their unofficial end.
As Haliburton left the Paycom Center for the evening, the optics of his exit did not bode well for what might lie ahead. He walked slowly and unsurely, hunched over as if he were an old man on a Sunday stroll. When I asked him what percentage of health he might assign to himself, he said, “No clue, man, honestly.”
Still, Haliburton said the odds of him playing in Game 6 on Thursday are, in essence, 100 percent.
The Pacers’ problems didn’t end there, though. Here are the three issues that should have kept them up at night after the latest loss.
Haliburton hurts himself — and his Pacers
Only Haliburton knows to what degree the injury held him back, but he was bad long before he went down midway through the first quarter. By night’s end, he had just four points (0-of-6 shooting), seven rebounds, six assists, three turnovers and a minus-13 mark. As he shared afterward, it’s the same area of his leg that he injured in Game 2.
“I was not great tonight by any means, but it’s not really a thought of mine to not play here,” he said. “If I can walk, then I want to play. They understand that. And it is what it is. Got to be ready to go for Game 6.”
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said there was a discussion at halftime (when the Thunder led 59-45) about whether Haliburton should continue.
“Yeah, I got him out early toward the end of the first half for two or three minutes because he just wasn’t moving well,” he said. “He was tired, too. He got back in and seemed OK. Then (at) halftime, we talked about it. … This is a lifetime opportunity. Not many guys are going to sit, even if they are a little banged up. If you’re injured, that’s a different story. But we’ll evaluate everything with Tyrese and see how he wakes up tomorrow.”
For the series, Haliburton is averaging 15 points, 7.2 assists, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 0.8 blocks and four turnovers per game. His counterpart, Sir SGA, is averaging 32.4 points, five assists, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 steals, 1.8 blocks and three turnovers.
T.J. McConnell gets into the paint against the OKC defense on Monday night. (Alonzo Adams / Imagn Images)
T.J. McConnell saves the day — then sits
Disclaimer: The fact that Carlisle has this team within reach of winning the whole thing is a minor miracle, so questioning his decision-making typically comes with great peril. But considering the way the 33-year-old guard carried Indiana in the third quarter, when he scored 13 points in seven minutes as the Pacers cut into the Thunder’s lead, it was quite strange to see him sit from the 10:50 mark in the fourth until he returned with 3:23 left.
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Especially considering Haliburton’s struggles.
“He was great in the third,” Carlisle said of McConnell. “(I) put him in earlier than normal (in the third). He was very tired. That’s why we got him out. I think there was a play early in the fourth where it looked like fatigue had set in there. Then Ty was back in, and then that group went on a good run there. Yeah, it’s always a consideration (to play him more late). But I haven’t gone through the entire game and completely analyzed the whole thing.”
In a game where very little was working for the Pacers, and with McConnell cutting through that incredible Thunder defense with ease at times, it was a costly move.
Turnovers are turning the series
Carlisle would not endorse the chosen order of issues here. As he began to field questions after the game, he made it quite clear that he believed the turnovers — 23 in all that led to 32 Thunder points — were far and away at the top of the Pacers’ list of problems.
“Nobody is asking about turnovers,” he said. “We had 23 turnovers for 32 points. That’s the game. We’ve got to do a heck of a lot better there.”
It should come as no surprise to anyone who has watched this incredible Thunder defense, but they tend to render even the most elite of offenses incapable. It happened yet again at the worst possible time for Indiana. Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, who had just four combined turnovers in the first four games, gave up six on his own Monday.
“I think it starts with me,” said Siakam, who had a team-high 28 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. “I’ve got to be better, especially (in) the first quarter (when he had three turnovers), taking care of the ball. I think it just kind of sets a trend a little bit with turnovers that we had in the critical parts of the game. I’ve got to be better with that.
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“I also think they do get away with a lot of reaching, probably a testament to the defense. But I think they do get away with a lot. Some of those turnovers, I felt they were fouls. But I’ve got to be better. I can’t have that many turnovers, especially in that first quarter.”
For the series, the Pacers are averaging 18.6 turnovers per game to the Thunder’s 13.4.
“I feel like some of them were self-inflicted,” Haliburton said of the turnovers. “Obviously, they are a great defensive team. They really swarm the ball. But we have to do a better job taking care of the ball.
“All three of our losses, turnovers have been a big reason why. We have to do a better job taking care of the ball if we want to have a chance in Game 6.”
(Top photo of Tyrese Haliburton and Rick Carlisle: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)
