The fate of the Indiana Pacers this postseason may come down to a crucial Game 6 – and Tyrese Haliburton’s strained right calf has Pacers fans seriously worried. The injury, which worsened during Monday’s Game 5 loss, has cast doubt on Haliburton’s availability for the upcoming match. The issue was an awkward position for Haliburton, but he wasn’t about to relent. He announced that he was going to continue playing until he could no longer walk.
Haliburton left Game 5 late in the first quarter but was seen returning to the bench with his lower leg wrapped. He saw action in just 34 minutes. He created shot opportunities for teammates by leading the squad in assists while leading the team in boards during an impressive second half. His injury really affected his performance throughout the game. As such, he settled for a short jumper and couldn’t connect on a single field goal, finishing the series with averages of 15.0 points, 7.2 assists and 6.2 rebounds on 45 percent shooting.
Following the game, Haliburton had an MRI to determine the severity of his calf strain. He might have had a status consideration where the Pacers discussed resting him for the second half. Haliburton wouldn’t hear of it, demonstrating loyalty to the team that drafted him.
“I mean, it’s the NBA Finals. It’s the finals, man,” – Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton’s choice to play through his injury is a testament to that devotion, with him even noting it wasn’t an option to not be out on the court.
“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. They understand that. And it is what it is. Got to be ready to go for Game 6.” – Tyrese Haliburton
Coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged the situation, stating that Haliburton will be “carefully evaluated over the next 36 hours” and is likely to be listed as questionable for Game 6.
“Depending on the situation tomorrow, we may need him for significantly more minutes,” – Rick Carlisle
Haliburton’s impact on the court makes them a completely different unit, as he continues to provide the spark the Pacers need to bounce back from a poor series. His leadership and skill have been instrumental during the playoffs. Losing him now would throw a huge wrench into the team’s plans to build around him going forward.
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