INDIANAPOLIS — Tyrese Haliburton was noticeably hobbled in the Indiana Pacers’ Game 5 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. He didn’t make a single field goal and finished with just four points.
After the game, Haliburton said that if he could walk, he would play in Game 6, despite having a strained right calf. It is the NBA Finals, after all.
Despite Haliburton’s assertion, Indiana was written off as dead. But if we’ve learned anything from watching these Pacers, it’s that they’re at their best when their backs are against the wall.
Haliburton went through the team’s pregame walkthrough and underwent various strength tests on Thursday. Coach Rick Carlisle told reporters before the game that Haliburton would play without a minutes restriction, though he would be monitored “closely.”
“He’s super important to us,” Carlisle said. “I think the big thing was just there wasn’t a lot of drama. The drama was created in the press somewhat because there’s a lot of talk about it. It was not coming from him. He was straightforward. He didn’t want a lot of attention. He was doing everything possible to be able to play.”
Haliburton played just 23 minutes in the Pacers’ 108-91 victory that forced a decisive Game 7. He missed his first four shots but found his rhythm and knocked down his fifth attempt late in the first quarter.
In a must-win scenario, Haliburton was exactly who his team needed him to be.
“He’s a tough kid,” teammate Pascal Siakam said. “I had no doubt that he was going to be out there with us. It just shows he’s one of our leaders on the team and he’s doing everything he can to be out there for us, and we appreciate that.”
Added Myles Turner: “It was never a doubt, man. I think that he answered the call obviously, but as far as playing and whatnot, I knew he was going to be out there.”
Haliburton went to the bench with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter and rested for the remainder of the game. He finished with 14 points, five assists and two steals. He made 5 of 12 from the field and 3 of 7 beyond the arc.
“He did amazing,” teammate Obi Toppin said. “He led us to a win, and he’s a soldier. He’s not going to let no little injury hold him back from playing in the finals and helping this team win. He’s helped us get to this point, and he’s going to keep going until he can’t.”
Haliburton’s heroics didn’t include a game-winning or game-tying shot. Instead, it was all about showing up — both physically and on the stat sheet.
“Just everything he’s dealing with, with his body and how he continues to lead, and just give 100 percent whenever he’s out there just trickles down to us,” Pacers guard Ben Sheppard said. “We look at him for hope and energy, and that’s what he’s able to do.”
Haliburton’s heroics didn’t include a game-winning or game-tying shot. Instead, it was all about showing up — both physically and on the stat sheet.
“Just everything he’s dealing with, with his body and how he continues to lead, and just give 100 percent whenever he’s out there just trickles down to us,” Pacers guard Ben Sheppard said. “We look at him for hope and energy, and that’s what he’s able to do.”
Whatever level of pain Haliburton was in during Thursday’s game, he said it wasn’t top of mind.
“I just look at it as I want to be out there to compete with my brothers,” he said. “We’ve had such a special year, and we have a special bond as a group. I think I’d beat myself up if I didn’t give it a chance. I just want to be out there and fight.
“(I) just had to have an honest conversation with Coach that if I didn’t look like myself and was hurting the team, like, sit me down. Obviously, I want to be on the floor, but I want to win more than anything.”
Haliburton’s passion and intensity were on full display in the Pacers’ rout. As was his showmanship. In the second quarter, Haliburton stole a pass from the Thunder’s Jalen Williams, tip-toed on the sideline to stay inbounds and then, with a pirouette, tossed a no-look pass that led to a monster dunk from Siakam.
As he raced back down the court, Haliburton high-fived a few people sitting courtside.
“I was so tired after that,” Haliburton said. “I was really hoping they would call a timeout, but we had to get back out on defense. That’s a special moment especially because we are always getting on Pascal for not dunking anymore. That was cool to see.
“Honestly, me and Pascal have not spoken about this play yet. I don’t know if we will until this is over. But, definitely a lot of fun, and if we are fortunate enough to go on and win this thing, I think that play will be remembered for a long time.”
Haliburton isn’t celebrating yet. He’ll have two days to rest and recover as best as he can. But come Sunday night, in the loudest environment in the NBA, Haliburton and the Pacers will once again be in a do-or-die situation.
“We’ve got one game. One game,” Haliburton said. “Nothing that’s happened before matters, and nothing that’s going to happen after matters. It’s all about that one game.”
The numbers behind Tyrese Haliburton’s clutch postseason.
