It’s a must-win game for the Indiana Pacers on Thursday as they aim to protect their home court and force a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. Unfortunately for Indiana, they could end up having to play without their star point guard as he continues recovery from a calf strain.
“I have to understand the risks, ask the right questions,” said Haliburton, via Tim MacMahon. “But I’m a competitor. I want to play. I’m going to do everything in my power to play.”
Young guard Tyrese Haliburton has been leading the Pacers to an impressive playoff run, but they are running out of steam here as they sit on the verge of elimination. After an impressive start and taking control early on with a 2-1 lead, it looked like Indiana was about to run away with the series. Everything changed in Game 5, however, when Hali had to leave the game early for treatment on his lower leg. He returned to the court soon after but hasn’t been the same since. On Monday, he finished with just four points in the loss (0-6 from the field in 34 minutes) before later confirming that he’s been dealing with a nagging calf injury.
His status for Thursday’s game remains questionable at this time, but Hali hopes to play through the pain and be there for his team. He’s the most valuable player of the Pacers, and he set the tone for them offensively. Without his leadership and playmaking, they hardly stand a chance against the Thunder. Fortunately, in a recent press conference, head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that the star guard has not been ruled out quite yet.
“He participated in all our walkthrough stuff. But it’s a walkthrough, so there was no running or moving. So, we’ll see. We’ll see where we are tomorrow,” said Rick Carlisle. We will not know for sure until late tomorrow afternoon or early evening.”
The typical recovery time for a sprained calf ranges from days to several weeks, but it’s time the Pacers do not have. Down 3-2 to the Thunder, they cannot afford to lose another game, or they will have no chance of recovery.
Haliburton’s availability isn’t just a matter of winning or losing a game. There’s a championship on the line, and the Pacers will need him at 100% to have any chance of winning the series. With averages of 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game on 47.3% shooting, Hali is essential to everything they do, and he’s the motor that powers their offense (one of the best in the NBA).
He’ll have to channel everything to lift the Pacers to a win in Game 6, but it’s not impossible if he’s healthy and making his usual impact on the floor. With his team as the underdogs the entire way to the Finals, Haliburton has yet to feel the heat, even though the odds are stacked against him against a dominant Thunder squad.
With another day to prepare, Haliburton will spend these next crucial hours preparing and strengthening his calf for Game 6. Even if it’s not fully healed, Hali is likely to try and play through the pain with his team on the verge of elimination.
