“I’m going to do everything in my power to play.”
Tyrese Haliburton made that clear, even as he hobbled around the press room— not quite himself, not quite healthy, but still very much determined.
With the Indiana Pacers facing elimination in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday (PH time), June 20, Haliburton has no plans to watch from the sideline if he can help it.
“I have to understand the risks, ask the right questions. But I’m a competitor. I want to play, ” Haliburton told reporters on eve of Game 6.
"I'm a competitor, I want to play. I'm gonna do everything in my power to play."
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 18, 2025
Hali on playing in Game 6 tomorrow 🙌
If this were December, he wouldn't be playing. If it were even February, he might be shut down for two weeks.
But this is June — the NBA Finals. and Haliburton, who is listed as questionable with a right calf strain entering Game 6, is chasing more than comfort — he's chasing history.
Injury Report for tomorrow's game against the Thunder:
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 18, 2025
Tyrese Haliburton - Questionable (right calf strain)
Jarace Walker - Out (right ankle sprain)
Isaiah Jackson - Out (right Achilles tendon tear)
[ALSO READ: Tyrese Haliburton to undergo MRI on calf injury ahead of do-or-die Game 6—reports]
Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle revealed his star guard participated in the team’s walkthrough — no running, no cutting, and certainly nothing resembling a Finals-level workload.
It was enough for the champion coach Carlisle to label him a game-time decision in a must-win game for the reigning Eastern Conference champions.
“We’ll see where we are tomorrow. It’s a topic people want to hear about, know about, and there’s a lot of questions about it. But we will not really know for sure until late tomorrow afternoon or early evening," the 65-year-old admitted.
Rick Carlisle on if Haliburton can go in Game 6:
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 18, 2025
"We will not really know for sure until late tomorrow afternoon or early evening."
The Pacers' plan — if Haliburton can’t go — likely involves handing the keys to backup point guard T.J. McConnell, who has been sensational in limited minutes.
McConnell brought Indiana back from 18 down in Game 5 and finished with 18 points in 18 minutes. His spark has become a lifeline.
T.J. McConnell takeover 🔥
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 17, 2025
he had 13 points in the third quarter 🔥
“He’s someone who can push the pace, get us into our stuff,” Pascal Siakam, who led the Pacers with 28 points in their last outing, said of their veteran backup guard. “He’s going to be huge for us either way.”
Even in a limited capacity, Haliburton contributed in Game 5. After briefly exiting with the injury in the first quarter, he returned with his lower leg wrapped and played through visible discomfort — finishing with four points, seven rebounds and six assists but did not attempt a field goal in the second half.
The Pacers considered holding him out after halftime, but the 25-year-old guard insisted on continuing.
“I have a lot of trust in our medical staff. I have a lot of trust in our organization to make the right decision,” Haliburton said.
He added: “I think there've been many situations through the course of my career where they’ve trusted me on my body. I want to be out there. That’s the plan.”
The Pacers led the Finals 2–1 but dropped the last two games. They now trail in the series and must win at home to force a winner-take-all Game 7 in Oklahoma City on Monday (PH time), June 23.
“We’ve been in this position before. What we need to do is buckle down, stand strong, and find a way [to win]. The ultimate is to get to a Game 7 but we've got to take care of home court tomorrow in order to do that,” Carlisle noted.
"I anticipate one of the best crowds in the history of @GainbridgeFH." 👏🏁
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 18, 2025
And whether Haliburton can play — and perform at a high level — for the remainder of the series remains to be seen, but if it’s up to him, he’ll be on the floor, one way or another.
