The Pacers are fighting for their first NBA championship, but Indiana’s best player is facing uncertain status moving forward.
Tyrese Haliburton had his worst game of the playoffs in Game 5, scoring just four points without making a field goal against the Thunder, but he was dealing with an injury. With Game 6 returning to Indiana on Thursday, the Pacers’ chances of extending the series depends on Haliburton’s injury diagnosis moving forward.
Here’s the latest on Haliburton’s status ahead of Game 6 on Thursday night.
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Tyrese Haliburton injury update
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the Pacers believe Haliburton has been dealing with a calf strain during the NBA Finals. Haliburton is expected to get an MRI ahead of Game 6 to determine the severity of the injury.
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is believed to have suffered a strained right calf and will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the strain, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/4FTIoB1RVU
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 17, 2025
Haliburton has been playing through the injury during the NBA Finals, and was clearly compromised on Monday night in Game 5. The Pacers point guard scored just four points and failed to collect a field goal in his most recent game as Oklahoma City won to take a 3-2 series lead.
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Will Tyrese Haliburton play in Game 6 vs. Thunder?
It’s unclear if Haliburton will play on Thursday night as the Pacers face elimination against Oklahoma City. His status will be determined by the severity of an injury.
Calf strains typically require time to heal, with even the slightest of injuries typically needing at least a week before the player can return. Charania reports that the Pacers will determine how to move forward once they receive Haliburton’s MRI results.
“It was described to me today that if this were the regular season, or even the first round, there is doubt that he would play,” Charania said. “Once the Pacers and Haliburton get the results back on this MRI, on that calf strain, they’re going to be able to identify the severity and then huddle and map out exactly what the plan will be going into Game 6.”
Since the Pacers are facing elimination, Haliburton may try to give it a go on Thursday even if he usually wouldn’t in another situation.
“It’s the finals, man,” Haliburton said Monday night, via The Athletic. “I’ve worked my whole life to be here, and I want to be out there to compete with all 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.”
