Tyrese Haliburton addressed the media Wednesday ahead of Game 6 of the NBA Finals, offering limited but telling insight into the calf injury that has impacted his performance throughout the series.
“I practiced today, did what I could,” Haliburton said during his press conference in Indianapolis. “We’re just taking it from there.” He confirmed he is dealing with a strain but stopped short of providing a full medical update, instead emphasizing his desire to play.
The All-Star guard, who was held to just four points on 0-of-6 shooting in Indiana’s Game 5 loss, made it clear that competitiveness will factor heavily into his decision.
“I think I have to be as smart as I want to be,” Haliburton said. “I want to play. I’m going to do everything in my power to play and that’s just what it is.”
The Pacers trail the Thunder 3-2 in the series and face elimination Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Oklahoma City, led by Jalen Williams’ 40-point performance in Game 5, is now one win away from its first NBA title.
Haliburton detailed his treatment process as “around-the-clock,” listing “massage, needles, hyperbaric, H-Wave” and taping as part of the protocol. “Just doing everything that I’m told,” he added, “trying to do everything I can.”
When asked whether he would be playing if it were the regular season, Haliburton acknowledged the stakes. “Probably,” he said. “But we’re not in the regular season, so it is what it is.”
He also addressed the play in which he appeared to aggravate the injury. “Yeah, that sounds about right,” he said when a reporter referenced the incident during a drive on Chet Holmgren in Game 5.
The 25-year-old showed trust in Indiana’s medical team, noting that the decision may not ultimately be his. “They trust me to make the right decision on my body when the power is in my hands,” he said. “But you understand I want to be out there, and that’s the plan.”
Haliburton also responded to a question about Andrew Nembhard, who committed multiple fourth-quarter turnovers in Monday’s loss. “Nobody’s really tripping off it,” he said. “There’s so many things that we can do better as a group.”
Indiana has not lost consecutive games this postseason. A win Thursday would force a Game 7 in Oklahoma City.
