Tyrese Haliburton’s status for Game 6 of NBA Finals uncertain

Tyrese Haliburton probably will be a ‘game-time decision’ for Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, putting the Indiana Pacers’ hopes of winning their first championship in jeopardy.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle gave the update in a radio interview on 107.5 The Fan on Wednesday, June 18. The news comes a day after Haliburton had an MRI on his right leg, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the injury.

‘He is going to be carefully evaluated over the next 36 hours and will likely be listed as questionable on the injury report and probably will be a game-time decision for Game 6,’ Carlisle said. ‘Everything is on the table.’

Haliburton went through Indiana’s entire 30-minute walkthrough, as well as a 25-minute film session. He confirmed during a news conference after the practice that he was diagnosed with a right calf strain.

The Pacers are facing an elimination game Thursday, June 19, against the Thunder and need Haliburton’s offense to have a chance at forcing a Game 7 in Oklahoma City. The Thunder easily won Game 5, 120-109, after Haliburton appeared to slip and injure his leg in the first quarter. OKC is seeking its second championship. The Thunder moved to OKC in 2008 from Seattle, where the franchise won the title in 1979 as the SuperSonics.

Carlisle said the Pacers do have to be prepared for the possibility Haliburton will not play. The Pacers went 4-5 this season in games which Haliburton did not appear. In such a case, Andrew Nembhard would likely move from shooting guard to point guard. In most cases this season when Haliburton did not play, Bennedict Mathurin moved into the starting lineup at shooting guard.

‘It’s pretty simple, we have to prepare for both,’ Carlisle said. ‘Today, when we meet with the team before we go on the floor and practice, is going to be more of a walkthrough at this point of the series. We’ll do a walkthrough, we’ll have some shooting. We’ll have some open practice the last 30 minutes with the media at the end, yeah, we have to prepare for two scenarios: one where he plays and one where he does not.’

Asked about how to handle rotations and minute counts, Carlisle stayed to the same line. ‘Everything is on the table,’ he said.

Haliburton is averaging 17.9 points and 9.1 assists per game in the playoffs. He’s hit game-winning or game-tying shots in four playoff comebacks for the Pacers to help them reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000 and the second in franchise history.

Haliburton fell while driving to the basket in the opening quarter of Game 5 and came up holding his right calf. He went to the locker room, but returned in the second quarter. He scored just four points and didn’t make a basket – both career playoff lows.

While it’s unclear how much – if at all – the leg injury is affecting his shooting, one thing is clear. The Pacers must have Haliburton’s offense to win the championship.

‘He’s not at a hundred percent,’ Carlisle said after Game 5. ‘It’s pretty clear, but I don’t think he’s going to miss the next game. We were concerned at halftime, and he insisted on playing.’

Haliburton was more forceful in his reply: ‘It’s the Finals, man. 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. … Got to be ready to go for Game 6.’

Will Tyrese Haliburton play in NBA Finals Game 6?

Tyrese Haliburton and coach Rick Carlisle said after Game 5 that the Pacers guard would play. However, Carlisle also said they would monitor Haliburton and ‘evaluate everything with Tyrese.’ On Wednesday, June 18, Carlisle said it would be a ‘game-time decision.’