With the Pacers facing elimination in Game 6 tonight, Tyrese Haliburton sacrificed everything to ensure he would be there to fight with his team. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Pacers star is even playing through a calf injury that would otherwise keep him off the court for multiple weeks.
“No set minutes restriction right now, and they will closely monitor him,” said Shams before Game 6. “But the most important part of Tyrese Halibuton playing tonight was when he passed his strength test at about 5 pm East Coast time. Doctors told Haliburton Wednesday night that this is a two-week injury, and if this were the regular season, he would not be playing tonight. But it’s the NBA Finals, and Tyrese Haliburton has said that if he can walk, he can play. He’s walking and he’s playing.”
We’ve seen several major players miss time due to injuries this season, but the Pacers had been fortunate with their health leading up to the Finals. It wasn’t until the latest injury scare for Tyrese Haliburton that the situation threatened to destabilize for the organization.
The incident goes back to Game 5, when Haliburton had to exit the game to seek treatment on his leg. It was later ruled as a calf strain, which explains why he finished with just four points and six assists in 34 minutes of play.
Clearly in pain, there were questions about whether Haliburton would be able to play again in the series, but he is ignoring all precautions and risking everything to be available for his team. It was paid off so far with a 20-point lead at halftime in Game 6. Haliburton, despite his injury, has 12 points and four assists in the first 24 minutes.
Whether the Pacers win or lose this series, nobody can question their heart and their desire to win it all. As the underdogs all season, Indiana has beaten overwhelming odds, and they’ll have to do it again to save their season.
After giving up a 3-2 lead to the Thunder, they had to climb their way back from the brink to tie the series, but now it’s anyone’s to win as both teams sit on the cusp of NBA history. In the end, Haliburton’s decision to play through the pain paid off with a win, and now they get one more chance to complete their unlikely playoff run.
As the one leading the way for them, this has been a true stepping-out moment for Haliburton, who is making a case for Finals MVP with averages of 15 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game in the Finals. He’s been a hero for the Pacers all season, and his willingness to play through an injury with a championship on the line proves that he’s got the ultimate winner’s mentality.
Regarding his status for Game 7, Hali will no doubt be available to play for the Pacers, especially since it will be the last game of the season. With a chance at making history for his franchise, Tyrese will put everything on the line and will play with nothing held back.
