The Indiana Pacers are now one win away from the championship, and Tyrese Haliburton can practically taste the Larry O’Brien trophy. Speaking up after a must-win Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pacers guard opened up on what inspired his team to victory tonight against all the odds.
“We just wanted to protect home court, we didn’t want to see these guys celebrate a championship on our home floor,” said Haliburton. “Backs against the wall, and we just responded. So many guys chipped in, a total team effort. Really proud of this group,” said Haliburton.
The star point guard also commented on the status of his health and explained why he chose to play tonight despite an active calf injury that limited him to 14 points on 41.7% shooting.
“It’s the Finals. All of us have to give everything we have, and I’d give everything I have for this group, for this locker room,” Hali continued. “My guys have had my back all year, and especially tonight, and that has meant the world to me.”
Finally, Haliburton revealed his team’s approach going into Game 7, which will require perfect strategy and execution to get the win.
“It’s about the margins. It’s about taking care of the ball and rebounding; those are the most important things,” Tyrese stated. “You have to control the controllables and let the cards fall where they may. It’s a one-game series now, and we believe. We got a lot of faith in this group.”
By all accounts, the Pacers weren’t supposed to be here. They aren’t the flashiest team or the most star-studded, but they have surpassed all expectations thanks to teamwork, leadership, and chemistry between players like Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Andrew Nembhard.
Coming in as the fourth seed, very few had the Pacers getting past the first round, but now they are in the NBA Finals and just one win away from winning it all. After losing Games 4 and 5 of the series, the Pacers were pushed to the brink of elimination, but they managed to give a response that has given them one last chance to win.
On the road against a Thunder team that won 68 regular-season games, the Pacers will have their work cut out for them on Sunday, but they believe they can win with enough effort and teamwork. The key to their success, as always, lies in the hands of Tyrese Haliburton.
He may not be at 100% right now, but if he can deliver up to a reasonable standard, it might be enough for the Pacers to close the series out in Oklahoma City. No matter what happens next, this season has already been a resounding success story for the Pacers, and they’ve proven themselves as a true juggernaut in the East that will be competitive for years to come.
As a 2x All-Star set to make $145 million over the next three years, Tyrese is getting the true superstar treatment, but he’ll never be counted among them without a championship to his name. With his very legacy at stake, this upcoming Game 7 will tell us a lot about Haliburton and whether or not he can rise to the occasion when needed.
