Tyrese Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers’ star point guard, suffered a painful right calf injury during the first quarter of Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. While trying to dribble past Chet Holmgren, Haliburton suddenly fell without any contact. He limped off and went to the locker room at the end of the quarter.
Though clearly not 100%, Haliburton came back to finish the game. He ended the night with just four points, all from free throws, and missed all six of his field goal attempts, including four from beyond the three-point line.
Tyrese Haliburton's injury. pic.twitter.com/tkHT6ILvjv
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) June 17, 2025
Haliburton Shares His Thoughts After the Game
After the game, Haliburton talked about why he decided to keep playing despite the injury. He said:
“This is the NBA Finals. I’ve worked my whole life to be here. If I can walk, I want to play.”
This shows how much this moment means to him. Even with pain, he wanted to be on the court and help his team.
What Happened on the Court
The injury happened when Haliburton was trying to take advantage of a one-on-one matchup with Holmgren near the three-point line. He dribbled right, then crossed left, but fell before making a move. He got up slowly and kept playing until coach Rick Carlisle subbed him out. Trainers quickly wrapped his leg with ice.
Even after coming back in, Haliburton didn’t look like himself. He couldn’t move with his usual speed and had trouble creating space. Defenders like Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace were able to lock him down.
NBA Experts Share Concerns
Former NBA champion Steve Smith said on NBA TV:
“I dont’ know how serious it is but it was serious enough where he was just not himself. He plays with a lot of speed, a lot of motion. He just didn’t have that. … I love that he came out and played hard but he wasn’t himself.”
Channing Frye, another NBA champion, added that the Pacers could struggle in Game 6 if Haliburton’s injury keeps bothering him. Both agreed that his quickness and drive were missing in Game 5.
Coach Carlisle Hopes for Recovery
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said after the game that he doesn’t expect Haliburton to miss Game 6. However, whether he’ll be able to play at his best is still uncertain.
Haliburton is the engine of Indiana’s offense. When he’s healthy, the team flows better and creates more scoring chances. Game 6 is very important, and all eyes will be on Haliburton to see if he can lead the Pacers with more power and movement.
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