Tyrese Haliburton spoke openly after the Pacers’ 120-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday. Indiana now trails the series 3-2 and faces elimination in Game 6 at home.
Haliburton said the opportunity to play in the Finals motivates him to play through injury. “I miss the NBA Finals. It’s the Finals, man. I’ve worked my whole life to be here, and I want to be out there to compete,” he said. “If I can walk, then I want to play.”
He described his limited impact during the game, noting, “I was not great tonight by any means, but… it’s not really a thought of mine to not play here.”
When asked about his injury, Haliburton confirmed it involved the same area as an issue from Game 2 but did not specify if they were directly related. He emphasized the need to cut down on turnovers, which have contributed to three losses in the series. “We got to do a better job taking care of the ball if we want to have a chance in Game 6,” he added.
The guard credited the Pacers’ resilience despite the challenge. “We’ve had our backs against the wall many times over the last two years, had to figure out different ways to win,” Haliburton said. “Losing means your season’s over. So, we got to go in and take care of business, approach the game the right way.”
Haliburton also addressed the pressure and motivation from representing a franchise still seeking its first championship. “Our city, our fans, are as hungry for this as we are as players,” he said. “We take pride in playing at home in front of our fans, and they’re going to come out with a ton of energy in Game 6.”
The Pacers’ turnovers proved costly again, with 22 mistakes contributing to the defeat. Haliburton singled out this issue as the main area for improvement. “22 turnovers against a team like this is a recipe for disaster,” he said.
Despite the setback, Haliburton remained optimistic about the upcoming elimination game. “Going home, there’s no better opportunity than to fight on your home floor,” he said. “Playing a win-or-go-home game at home, that’s going to be a lot of fun. I look forward to competing, and we’ll be ready.”
Game 6 takes place Thursday night in Indianapolis, where the Pacers must win to extend the series and keep their championship hopes alive.
