knPacers star Tyrese Haliburton to undergo MRI for calf strain before Game 6 of NBA Finals

Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News on Jun 17, 2025

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The status of Tyrese Haliburton’s calf now hangs over the NBA Finals.

The Indiana Pacers’ star point guard played through a right calf strain in Game 5 and was set to undergo an MRI on Tuesday, according to ESPN.

Haliburton managed only four points on 0-of-6 shooting in Monday night’s 120-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which put the Pacers in a 3-2 hole in the best-of-seven series.

“I was not great [in Game 5] by any means, but it’s not really a thought of mine to not play here,” Haliburton said after the game. “If I can walk, then I want to play.”

Haliburton briefly disappeared into the Pacers’ locker room during Monday’s first half, then returned to the bench with a wrap around his calf before re-entering the game.

He later said the calf issue was in the “same area” as a right ankle injury that was reported after Game 2.

“He’s not 100 percent. It’s pretty clear, but I don’t think he’s going to miss the next game,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.

“We were concerned at halftime, and he insisted on playing. I thought he made a lot of really good things happen in the second half. But he’s not 100 percent, and there’s a lot of guys in this series that aren’t.”

Haliburton played 34 minutes in Game 5 but posted a plus-minus of -13, the second-worst mark on the team.

He finished with seven rebounds, six assists and three turnovers.

“He’s been our rock all year,” forward Pascal Siakam said of Haliburton. “He’s a big reason why we’re here. I don’t know exactly what’s wrong, but I know he’s fighting and he’s going to give us everything he’s got.”

Backup point guard T.J. McConnell scored 13 points in the third quarter — including eight with Haliburton on the bench — but played only 4:33 in the fourth.

Haliburton played a team-high 8:59 in the final quarter.

“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.”

Monday’s quiet showing continued an uneven Finals for Haliburton, who drilled the game-winner in Game 1 but is averaging 15.0 points on 45.3% shooting, 7.2 assists and 4.0 turnovers per game in the series.

Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where the Pacers will attempt to stave off elimination.

“We’ve had our backs against the wall many different times over the last two years, had to figure out different ways to win,” Haliburton said. “The way that this year has gone, nobody said this was going to be sweet.”