Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Pushes to Play Game 6 Despite Calf Injury

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is dealing with a significant right calf strain sustained during Game 5 of the NBA Finals, which has impacted his performance and raised concerns about his availability for Game 6. Despite the injury causing him to miss all six field goal attempts and score only four points in the loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Haliburton has expressed his determination to play in Game 6 as long as he can walk, emphasizing the importance of the Finals stage. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that Haliburton is not at full strength but does not expect him to miss the next game, though the severity of the calf strain necessitates an MRI to better understand his condition. The injury limits Haliburton's mobility, which contributed to Indiana's increased turnovers and offensive struggles in Game 5, putting the team at risk of elimination. The Finals schedule, with two-day breaks between most games, offers some recovery time, but the Pacers will face a steep challenge if Haliburton is unable to perform at his usual level. Without their All-NBA point guard operating fully, Indiana's chances to push the series to a Game 7 are uncertain, as Oklahoma City holds momentum after recent victories.