Tyrese Haliburton limped into the press conference room with his right calf heavily wrapped and his voice steady — not because the pain had faded, but because the stakes hadn’t.
“It’s the Finals. If I can walk, then I want to play,” the banged-up star said.
That’s the tone the Indiana Pacers are carrying into a do-or-die Game 6 of the NBA Finals — down, but not out.
Trailing 3-2 in the series after back-to-back losses, Indiana returns to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, June 20 (PH time), with its season on the line against the OKC Thunder. Tipoff is at 8:30 a.m.
After taking a 2-1 lead in the series, the Pacers have dropped consecutive games for the first time in three months — their latest setback a 120-109 loss in Game 5 that pushed them to the brink of elimination.
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Pascal Siakam led the charge with 28 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Backup guard T.J. McConnell added 18 points, including 13 in a spirited third-quarter run that trimmed a 14-point halftime deficit to single digits entering the final frame.
But Indiana couldn’t complete the comeback — and now faces its biggest challenge yet in these playoffs.
Haliburton aggravated a lingering right calf injury early in the Game 5 loss, forcing him into the locker room in the first quarter. He returned in the second with his leg heavily taped and played through visible discomfort, finishing with just four points — matching the lowest output of his playoff career — and missing all six of his field goal attempts.
His status is the central storyline heading into Game 6 as head coach Rick Carlisle reveals his star point guard is a game-time decision for tomorrow.
[ALSO READ: Rick Carlisle says Tyrese Haliburton a game-time decision for Pacers in Game 6 vs Thunder]
The Pacers haven’t faced elimination since Game 4 of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. They hadn’t trailed in a playoff series this year — until now.
Still, there’s belief.
With a 7-3 home record this postseason, The Pacers are hoping to summon one more inspired effort to extend their season — and force a winner-take-all Game 7 in Oklahoma City.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]
