The Indiana Pacers fell behind for the first time in the 2025 NBA Finals following a 120-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 on Monday. While losing the game and going down 3-2 was bad enough, the Pacers suffered a massive blow in the form of an injury to Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton finished with just four points (0-for-6 from the field), seven rebounds, and six assists in Game 5, and NBA insider Shams Charania later reported that he had suffered a strained right calf. Charania added that the 25-year-old would undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, but that hasn't been revealed yet.
Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton walks to the bench during Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton walks to the bench during Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The injury has put Haliburton's status for Game 6 in Indiana in doubt. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle revealed that his star guard is likely to be a game-time decision for Thursday's contest.
Following the Game 5 loss, Haliburton, who is now averaging 15.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game against the Thunder, did not even entertain the notion that he wouldn't play in the win-or-go-home clash. The two-time All-Star has now sent out another message regarding his status for Game 6.
This is the biggest game of Haliburton's NBA career thus far, and he is unsurprisingly going to do everything he can to play. A loss here ends the Pacers' season when they are just two victories away from winning their first-ever NBA championship.
Game 6 will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET