"I'll Be Out There": Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Battles Lower Leg Discomfort Ahead of Crucial Game 3 in NBA Finals
Tyrese Haliburton. Image via: Getty Images
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton
is managing lower leg discomfort but has no doubts about suiting up for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite visible limping after Sunday's 123-107 loss, Haliburton remains confident he'll be ready when the series resumes Wednesday night.
The
Indiana Pacers
and Thunder are tied 1-1, with Game 3 tipping off at 8:30 p.m. ET in Indianapolis. Tyrese Haliburton, averaging 15.5 points and six assists in the series, acknowledged the injury but downplayed its severity.
Tyrese Haliburton dismisses concerns over injury
'It's really just a lower leg thing, I'm gonna leave it at that,'
Tyrese Haliburton
said Tuesday. 'I don't think there's anything more to elaborate.'
Though he didn't specify whether the issue was related to his calf or ankle, Haliburton's history of hamstring problems—including a strain that sidelined him during last year's Eastern Conference finals—raises questions about his durability.
Still, neither he nor the Indiana Pacers appear overly concerned.
Head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed Haliburton participated fully in Tuesday's practice and expects him to play. 'At this time of year, I don't know if anybody's feeling perfect,' Carlisle said. 'He has some discomfort, but each day is getting better. This is the time of year where it just doesn't get any better than this.'
Thunder's defense stifling Tyrese Haliburton's production
Who is Tyrese Haliburton's father, John Haliburton? Everything you should know about force behind Indiana Pacers star (Image via: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
Beyond health, Tyrese Haliburton's bigger challenge has been
Oklahoma City's
elite defense.
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The Thunder, the NBA's top-rated defensive team this season, have thrown multiple defenders at him, including Luguentz Dort, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The strategy has worked so far. Haliburton has struggled with efficiency, shooting just 33% from three and averaging four turnovers per game. His assist-to-turnover ratio, usually stellar at nearly 9:1, has dipped significantly.
'I feel like I haven't been great by any means through the first two games,' Haliburton admitted. 'I'm just trying to take what I can to prepare for Game 3. The answers always lie in the film.'
Indiana Pacers must clean up turnovers to compete
Indiana's turnover issues have been a major storyline. The team has coughed up the ball 40 times in two games, with many mistakes leading directly to Thunder points. Carlisle joked about some of the miscues, saying, 'Some of our turnovers have been so violently bad, the opponent hasn't even had a chance to catch the ball.'
But the problem is no laughing matter. Against a disciplined team like Oklahoma City, wasted possessions are costly. 'You can't play too careful against them, or otherwise you'll never get a basket,' Carlisle added.
Other Indiana Pacers dealing with minor ailments
Carlisle also mentioned that a couple of other players are 'slightly under the weather,' though he didn't name them. Forward Aaron Nesmith (ankle) and center Tony Bradley (hip) have dealt with injuries earlier in the playoffs, but their status for Game 3 remains unclear.
With the series shifting to Indianapolis, Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers have a chance to regain control. His ability to shake off the leg discomfort and solve Oklahoma City's defensive schemes will be key to Indiana's title hopes.
Also read:
Skip Bayless' Drops Bombshell After OKC Thunder Game 2 Domination – Can the Indiana Pacers Respond?
For now, the message is clear: Haliburton will play, and the Pacers aren't backing down.
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