The Pacers confronted the Thunder in Recreation 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals, dropping 120-109. They misplaced 3-2 to Oklahoma Metropolis and can play Recreation 6 on Thursday night time.
Throughout Monday night time’s loss, Pacers All-Star PG Tyrese Haliburton had a horrible offensive efficiency. He went 0-6 on area objectives and completed with 4 factors. After the Recreation 5 loss, it was introduced that Haliburton was affected by a calf damage. It stays to be seen whether or not the 25-year-old shall be obtainable for Recreation 6. If Haliburton is out, do the Indiana Pacers have an opportunity to win with out him on Thursday night time?
Tyrese Haliburton is uncertain for Recreation 6 as a consequence of calf damage
Largest concern as Tyrese Haliburton performs with ‘calf tightness’
Calf tightness -> Calf weak point = Achilles tendon danger pic.twitter.com/arDefHbOtf
–Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) June 17, 2025
The Indiana Pacers can have their backs in opposition to the wall Thursday night time. Oklahoma Metropolis leads the sequence 3-2 and hopes to settle it in Recreation 6. It was a magical run for the Pacers within the 2025 playoffs. Regardless of not making it to the convention finals final season, nobody picked the Pacers to make it once more in 2025. Not to mention make it to the NBA Finals and face a staff just like the Thunder. Indiana can have an elimination sport Thursday night time.
In the event that they lose, the Thunder will win the 2025 NBA Finals. The Pacers desperately want a win to qualify for Recreation 7 this Sunday. With 9 minutes and 24 seconds left within the second quarter of Recreation 5, Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers suffered a strained muscle in his proper calf. Dr. Evan Jeffries defined why he believes Haliburton has been coping with this damage since Recreation 2 of the NBA Finals. Jeffries defined how the Pacers initially dominated his damage to be an ankle damage. Nevertheless, Jeffries believed the damage was associated to Haliburton’s calf.
Tyrese Haliburton on calf damage forward of Recreation 6:
“That is the finals. I’ve labored my complete life to get right here…In the event you can stroll, you’ll be able to play.”
(by way of @TonyReast) pic.twitter.com/y9LyEYFg5q
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 17, 2025
NBA insider Shams Charania mentioned Tyrese Haliburton underwent an MRI to find out the severity of his damage. After the Recreation 5 loss, Haliburton informed the media, “In the event you can stroll, you’ll be able to play.” We’ll have to attend and see if Indiana feels the identical method. In case your calf muscle tissue are weak, you might be vulnerable to injuring your Achilles tendon. That is the very last thing the Pacers want at this level within the season. Do the Pacers have an opportunity to win if Haliburton is unavailable?
If Haliburton is unavailable, head coach Rick Carlisle should make changes to Indiana’s beginning lineup. TJ McConnell is a backup PG, however he has extra worth off the bench for the Pacers. Benedict Mathurin or Ben Shepherd may very well be included within the beginning XI. Pascal Siakam will shoulder the scoring burden for Indiana. He might want to play one of the best sport of his profession within the playoffs to beat the Thunder with out Tyrese Haliburton. Recreation 6 will happen Thursday at 8:30pm EST.
