Tyrese Haliburton injury clouds Pacers’ Game 6 hopes

Jun 17, 2025 8:44 PM

With the Indiana Pacers facing elimination in the NBA Finals, the health of their All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is front and center.

Haliburton is scheduled to undergo an MRI to assess the severity of a strained right calf, an injury that visibly limited his performance during Game 5’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The star guard struggled significantly, failing to convert a single field goal – a rare occurrence for a player of his caliber and a clear sign that his leg wasn’t right.

Despite the setback, Haliburton sounded optimistic in his postgame remarks:

“I expect to play in Game 6,” he told reporters confidently, signaling his intention to suit up in front of the home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Adding to the concern, Haliburton had also been dealing with ankle soreness in the same right leg the previous week. The combination of injuries has taken a toll, with his production dipping in the Finals compared to earlier playoff rounds.

NBA insider Shams Charania provided some context for the team’s decision to keep Haliburton on the court:

“It was described to me today that if this were the regular season or even the first round, there’s doubt he even would play,” Charania said, underlining just how serious the calf issue may be.

In Haliburton’s absence or limited stretches, backup guard T.J. McConnell has stepped up admirably, providing energy and smart playmaking off the bench.

Still, there’s no doubt the Pacers need their floor general at full strength if they hope to extend the series.

Haliburton is averaging 18.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 9.3 assists, and 1.4 steals across 20 playoff games.

However, his output in the Finals has dipped to 15.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game, with a PER of 14.1 – a notable drop from his 25.1 PER in the Eastern Conference Finals.

With Game 6 looming and the Pacers trailing the Thunder 3-2, all eyes are now on the results of Haliburton’s MRI and whether he can fight through the pain to help Indiana stay alive in its quest for a championship.