The Indiana Pacers have a tall task ahead of them for Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight, facing a 3-2 series deficit. With a potential elimination on the line, the Pacers will need Tyrese Haliburton in his All-NBA form.
Unfortunately, Haliburton suffered a strained right calf in the Pacers’ Game 5 loss on Monday, where he tied for a series-low 34 minutes played. Haliburton’s injury was impactful enough to leave some doubts in the minds of Pacers fans ahead of the series heading back home to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday night.
Yet, according to [ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania](https://x.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1935735765017018661), Haliburton is “fully intending to be out there tonight.”
> “Tyrese Haliburton has every intention of playing tonight.. He’s fully intending to be out there tonight.”
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> Shams Charania on Tyrese Haliburton
With the series on the line, we wouldn’t expect anything less from Haliburton, especially considering he was able to continue playing through the calf injury on Monday. Still, it’s good to hear that Haliburton’s injury hasn’t taken a turn for the worse ahead of what could be the biggest game of his career.
However, if Haliburton is absent for large stretches of time, fans tuning in may have a better idea why, knowing his calf injury is still bothering him, just not enough to keep him out of the game entirely.
**Related: [NBA insider explains why Sacramento Kings traded Tyrese Haliburton to Indiana Pacers instead of De’Aaron Fox](https://sportsnaut.com/nba/sacramento-kings-rumors-tyrese-haliburton-trade-explanation/)**