The Indiana Pacers find themselves on the brink of elimination in the 2025 NBA Finals, trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder 3-2. Adding to the pressure, their star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton, is battling a nagging leg injury that visibly hampered his performance in Game 5. As the series shifts back to Indianapolis for a crucial Game 6, the Pacers' hopes of extending their season hinge on Haliburton's ability to play through the pain and contribute at a high level.
Haliburton's injury woes became apparent in Game 5, where he appeared to aggravate his lower right leg early in the first quarter. He briefly exited the game for treatment, returning with a wrap on his leg. Despite logging 34 minutes, his effectiveness was severely limited. He finished with just four points, all from the free-throw line, and missed all six of his field goal attempts. This marked the first time in his playoff career that he failed to score a field goal in a game.
The injury is reportedly a sore right calf, an issue that has lingered throughout the series. Haliburton was seen limping after Game 2 and acknowledged that the Game 5 injury was in the "same area" as a previous ankle issue. At halftime of Game 5, reports surfaced that he was experiencing calf tightness in the same leg he injured earlier in the series.
Despite the obvious discomfort, Haliburton is determined to play in Game 6. "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. If I can walk, then I want to play." Pacers coach Rick Carlisle echoed this sentiment, stating that while Haliburton is "not 100%," he doesn't expect him to miss the game. Carlisle also noted that Haliburton insisted on playing through the injury in the second half of Game 5.
However, Haliburton's presence on the court might not be enough if he's unable to perform at his usual standard. In Game 5, with Haliburton struggling, T.J. McConnell provided a spark off the bench with 18 points. Some observers believe that Carlisle should have relied more on McConnell down the stretch, given Haliburton's ineffectiveness.
The Pacers' offense relies heavily on Haliburton's playmaking and scoring ability. Throughout the postseason, he's averaged 17.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. His ability to penetrate the defense, create opportunities for his teammates, and knock down open shots is crucial to Indiana's success. If he's limited by his injury, the Pacers will need other players to step up and fill the void.
For the Pacers to force a Game 7, they need Haliburton to be as healthy as possible. This means round-the-clock treatment on his leg and a focused effort to manage the pain. They also need other players like Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, and Bennedict Mathurin to elevate their game and provide additional scoring and playmaking. The Pacers have shown resilience throughout the playoffs, but they face their toughest test yet against a determined Thunder team.
