Williams puts OKC on brink of NBA glory | 01:17
June 20th, 2025 9:54 am
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has been declared fit for Friday’s must-win NBA Finals clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder, head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed.
_**Watch every game of The NBA Finals LIVE with ESPN on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? [Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.](https://kayosports.com.au?pg=ussports&extcamp=fsaeditoriallinkbasketball-edt-fsp-lnk-awr-grc-bkb-kyo&channel=fsa&campaign=fsacontra&voucher=)**_
Carlisle told reporters that Haliburton, who had been struggling with a right calf strain, would start as the Pacers attempt to force a game seven.
“Tyrese will play. He was tested at 5 pm. He was strength tested at 5 pm and did very well,” Carlisle said.
“Went through walkthrough. There’s no set minutes limit. We will watch and monitor things very closely from the beginning of the game through the entirety of the game. We’ll go from there.”
Carlisle declined to elaborate further on Haliburton’s fitness.
“I told you everything I’m going to tell you about it,” he said.
“He went through walkthrough. He walked through stuff yesterday. We’ve had walkthroughs the last two days.
“But that’s where things are. He’s going to play. That’s it.”
Haliburton was later spotted wearing a calf sleeve as he got shots up before Friday’s game.
ESPN insider Shams Charania reported earlier in the day that Haliburton was planning to “gut it out”.
“I would expect him to have some padding on that calf. But, listen, it’s a calf strain. He’s definitely got to be careful,” Charania added on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’.
Oklahoma City lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and will clinch the NBA title with victory in Indianapolis later Friday.
The Pacers, meanwhile, will be looking to keep their title dream alive as they look to become the most unlikely NBA champion in league history.
Indiana entered the postseason at +8000 on BetMGM and were +6600 odds before the season tipped off.
The current longest-shot NBA champions are Golden State, who started the 2014-15 season at +2800 odds, which then shortened to +175 by the start of the postseason.
**LIVE BLOG**
**Follow all the latest from Game 6 of the NBA Finals in our live blog below!**
**Can’t see it? [Click here!](https://go.arena.im/live/fox-sports-australia/F240yGf?v=2)**