The Indiana Pacers’ 2025 NBA Finals run has been a thrilling ride, marked by their rotational offense and resilience throughout the playoffs so far. Against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pacers stole Game 1 with Tyrese Haliburton’s clutch jumper for a one point victory. The Pacers split the next two games by leveraging their fast-paced style to secure a great win against the Thunder in Game 3 at their home floor. However, the Thunder, led by their superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and their second option, Jalen Williams, regained momentum with a Game 4 victory, proving that they are the best defensive team in the NBA and feasting on Indiana’s turnovers.
Game 5 proved to be a turning point, as the Pacers fell 120-109 in Oklahoma City, now trailing 3-2 in the series. Tyrese Haliburton, the team’s All-Star point guard, struggled mightily, hampered by a lingering calf injury. His dismal performance, going 0-6 from the field and only scoring four points, marked to be one of the worst performances by a star in NBA Finals history. His injury has certainly raised concerns going into a win-or-go-home situation in Game 6. Despite the setback, the Pacers’ supporting cast including Pascal Siakam and TJ McConnell, kept the game competitive, but the Thunder were just too much to handle in the end.
In a postgame press conference, Haliburton opened up about his decision to play through the calf injury as he stated, “It’s the NBA Finals. I’ve worked my whole life to be here. It was not really a though of mine to not play.” Though Haliburton may have had a bad game, his resolve to play through the nagging pain reflects his leadership qualities and the Pacers still need him desperately on the court. However, the injury visibly nerfed his explosiveness, limiting him to seven rebounds, 6 assists, and a minus-13 rating in 34 minutes. The calf issue was first noted in Game 2 and it only worsened as the series has progressed, forcing him to limp through possessions, and that was capitalized by OKC’s Lu Dort who put the clamps on the Pacers’ star.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, while concerned, remains confident about Haliburton’s status for Game 6, saying, “He’s not 100% but I don’t think he’s gonna sit out a do-or-die game.” Indiana’s 0-5 record when Haliburton fails to score a field goal clearly highlights his importance. Luckily for the Pacers, Game 6 will be on their home floor where Indiana is extremely tough to beat. Going against OKC’s defense and offensive potency, Haliburton’s health and performance in Game 6 will determine if the Pacers can extend their Cinderella run or go home.
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