Already on the brink of elimination, the Pacers’ NBA Finals outlook just got even worse.
Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton is believed to have suffered a strained right calf, and he will undergo an MRI exam to determine the severity of the injury, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania Tuesday.
Haliburton’s status for Game 6 on Thursday in Indiana is unknown until the team gets the results of the MRI, which Charania said will allow the Pacers to “huddle and map out exactly what the plan will be going into Game 6.”
Haliburton, 25, played through the injury in the second half of Monday’s 120-109 loss to the Thunder in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, after he exited to the locker room early in the game and returned in the second quarter with his calf wrapped.
Still, his output was significantly diminished – Haliburton scored just four points and went 0-for-6 from the field as the Pacers lost their second straight game and fell into a 3-2 series deficit.
It marked the quietest game of the playoffs for the point guard, who has been the primary catalyst for Indiana’s magical run to the Finals, averaging 17.9 points, 9.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds in 21 playoff games.
After Game 5, Haliburton indicated he would do everything in his power to play Game 6.
“It’s the Finals,” he said. “I’ve worked my whole life to be here and I want to be out there to compete, help my teammates any way I can. I was not great tonight by any means, but it’s not really a thought of mine to not play here. If I can walk, then I want to play.”
With Haliburton battling the injury, the Pacers will need big-time efforts from Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and the rest of their deep rotation in Game 6 to stay alive and force a Game 7 in Oklahoma City.
