Pacers G Tyrese Haliburton reportedly needs MRI for calf strain, status for rest of NBA Finals unclear

Yahoo

5 hours ago

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is believed to have suffered a strained right calf and needs an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Tuesday.
Haliburton's status moving forward for the remainder of the NBA Finals is unclear.
Advertisement
Haliburton sustained the injury in Monday's NBA Finals Game 5. The Oklahoma City Thunder won the game to take a 3-2 series lead and move within one win of securing an NBA championship.
Haliburton appeared to sustain the injury without contact in the first quarter while driving to the basket. He briefly left for the Pacers locker room before returning to the sideline in the second quarter with a wrap around his calf. Charania reported during the game the injury was initially diagnosed as calf tightness.
Haliburton removed the wrap and played through the end of the game. He played 34 minutes during the 120-109 Thunder win, but struggled to make an impact.
Advertisement
Haliburton failed to make a field goal in an 0-for-6 effort from the floor. He finished the Pacers' loss with four points, seven rebounds and six assists in his worst game of the playoffs.
Haliburton told reporters after the game that he was "not great" in Game 5, but that he intends to play moving forward.
"It's the NBA Finals. It's the Finals, man," Haliburton said. "I've worked my whole life to be here. And I want to be out there to compete, help my teammates any way I can.
"I was not great tonight, by any means. But it's not really a thought of mine to not play here. If I can walk, then I want to play."
Tyrese Haliburton reportedly needs an MRI to determine the severity of a calf strain sustained in Game 5. ()
(Matthew Stockman via Getty Images)
Will Haliburton be able to play in Game 6?
Haliburton, an Olympian and a two-time NBA All-Star, is critical to Indiana's hopes of rallying to win the NBA championship. The Pacers must win Games 6 and 7 to win the title.
Advertisement
Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday night (8:30 p.m. ET) in Indianapolis. The point spread moved from Pacers +4.5 to +6.5 on BetMGM upon news of Haliburton's reported calf strain.
In 21 games this postseason, Haliburton has averaged 17.9 points, 9.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 46.3% from the floor and 32.4% from 3-point distance. He's hit multiple game-winning shots to cap Pacers comeback wins throughout the playoffs.
If Haliburton can't play or is limited, the Pacers will be at a significant disadvantage against a Thunder team that posted the NBA's best regular season record at 68-14.