The Indiana Pacers are on the brink of collapse in the NBA Finals, and now their worst fears may be materializing. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is believed to have suffered a strained right calf and is set to undergo an MRI to determine the severity. Depending on the diagnosis, the Pacers could be without their franchise floor general for the rest of the series.
Haliburton has been battling visible discomfort since Game 2. Though he has averaged 15.0 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.2 rebounds across five games in the Finals, Game 5 saw him at his worst: just four points on 0-of-6 shooting, six assists, seven rebounds, and six turnovers in a 109–120 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
His limp was noticeable, and his timing was clearly off.
Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle addressed the injury in his postgame press conference, admitting, “He’s not at 100%. That’s pretty clear. But I don’t think he’s going to miss the next game… he insisted on playing.”
That determination was echoed by Haliburton himself, who told reporters, “It’s the NBA Finals, man. I’ve worked my whole life to be here… If I can walk, then I want to play.”
But grit alone might not be enough. If Haliburton’s MRI reveals anything beyond a Grade I strain, the standard recovery timeline would be three weeks, effectively ruling him out of the Finals.
Even if he tries to play through it, he’ll be doing so at a major physical disadvantage, especially against the length and defensive intensity of Thunder guard Lu Dort and big man Chet Holmgren, who triggered the original injury by contesting Haliburton on a perimeter drive.
His absence or even his diminished state, could be catastrophic. Haliburton is not just Indiana’s best playmaker; he is their offensive identity. His ability to create shots, manipulate defenses, and keep the tempo high has been vital to Carlisle’s offensive system.
Without a fully operational Haliburton, the Pacers’ machine has sputtered. Their 22 turnovers in Game 5, six from Pascal Siakam and five from Aaron Nesmith, highlighted how chaotic things became without him running the show at full strength.
Siakam, to his credit, poured in 28 points to lead the team, but outside of him and veteran TJ McConnell (18 points), Indiana’s supporting cast faltered. Andrew Nembhard had just seven points,
Myles Turner was quiet with 13, and Nesmith’s five giveaways undermined his scoring. The Pacers were unrecognizable, overwhelmed by pressure and plagued by poor execution.
Game 6 will be played in Indiana, but the stakes could not be higher. Down 3–2, the Pacers are one loss away from watching the Thunder lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy in their building. If Haliburton can’t recover in time, the dream of their first-ever championship might vanish.
This was always going to be a tough series, but now with Haliburton hobbled and the Pacers suddenly unsure of their identity, the Finals are beginning to tilt decisively toward Oklahoma City.
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