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The Indiana Pacers are currently on the brink of elimination after losing back-to-back games in the last two NBA Finals matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After taking a 2-1 lead initially the Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, have retaken the lead and they could win their first championship ever after shifting from Seattle to Oklahoma. Meanwhile, the Pacers, have not been able to put on the same kind of show that they did earlier in the playoffs, and the biggest reason to it is likely because of Tyrese Haliburton’s injury, which has limited him from playing at his best.
While the world debates about his star/superstar or just a really good player status in the NBA, Haliburton has proven in this playoffs that the he is on the come up. Knocking down multiple game tying or go-ahead baskets, Haliburton is one of the biggest reasons why the Pacers are even in the NBA Finals to begin with. While their best scorer is arguably Pascal Siakam, Hali’s job has been to do a little of everything which includes, setting up his teammates as his No.1 priority, and then comes scoring, playing like a pure point guard. However, his calf strain, which has been bothering him since Game 2 of the NBA Finals, has only gotten worse as the series has gone along. It was evident that Haliburton wasn’t a 100% in Game 5, limping away on the court at times.
With Haliburton’s injury, the Pacers’ chance to win the title has diminished significantly, and we are here to answer if he’ll play tonight in a do-or-die Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Tyrese Haliburton’s Game 6 Status
Luckily for the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton is going to play tonight as the Indiana Pacers face elimination in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. He was officially listed as questionable to play in tonight’s game, but Haliburton made it clear after Game 5 that it’s the NBA Finals, and he intends to put on his uniform and try to push the Thunder to a Game 7 in Oklahoma City.
The latest for NBA Today on Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton and his right calf strain entering Game 6 of the NBA Finals against Oklahoma City: pic.twitter.com/nNq4FAVcwr
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 19, 2025
Pacers’ head coach Rick Carlisle will be in under any kind of minutes restriction and despite his calf strain, Haliburton will play tonight. “If I can walk, I want to play,” is what Haliburton said after losing to the Thunder in Game 5.
Haliburton went 0-6 from the field, and only dropped 4 points in a critical Game 5, which has brought it a lot of scrutiny along his way, particularly debating his star status in the league. While we believe Haliburton is clearly on the rise and is already one of the best guards in the NBA, he will need to step up in a big way tonight, to keep Indiana’s championship hopes alive. The Pacers are nearly impossible to beat when Haliburton scores at least 20 points or more, and the team will need Hali’s scoring to go along with his playmaking to force a Game 7.