Tyrese Haliburton didn’t score a single basket in the Indiana Pacers’ Game 5 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.
He limped, winced, winced again — and still managed to play 34 minutes on a strained right calf.
Haliburton injured his right leg and went back to the locker room after this play.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 17, 2025
He came back and returned to the game shortly after.
(via @ESPNNBA)
Now, with the Pacers’ season hanging in the balance, Haliburton is walking into a medical room instead of the practice gym.
The 24-year-old star is set to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of his calf strain, and his availability for Game 6 — and potentially the remainder of the championship series — is in question, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is believed to have suffered a strained right calf and will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the strain, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 17, 2025
Haliburton aggravated the injury in the first quarter of Indiana’s 120–109 loss in Game 5 but returned in the second with the calf wrapped.
[ALSO READ: Jalen Williams' 40-point Game 5 masterclass vs Pacers pushes Thunder to cusp of NBA title]
His mobility was visibly limited, and so was his production: zero field goals on six attempts, four points, six assists, and seven rebounds. It marked the lowest scoring output of his playoff career and the first time he has gone scoreless from the field in a postseason game.
“He’s not at a hundred percent,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said postgame. “It’s pretty clear. But I don’t think he’s going to miss the next game. We were concerned at halftime, and he insisted on playing.”
"He's not 100%. It's pretty clear. But I don't think he's gonna miss the next game."
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 17, 2025
Coach Carlisle gives the latest on Tyrese Haliburton's injury sustained in Game 5.
Haliburton told reporters the injury was in the “same area” as the right ankle issue he dealt with after Game 2 — one that had him noticeably limping off the podium. Still, the Pacers did not list him on the injury report ahead of Game 3.
Now down 3–2 in the series and facing elimination, Indiana’s hopes rest heavily on Haliburton’s status heading into Game 6 on Friday (PH time), June 20, in Indianapolis.
“It’s the NBA Finals. If I can walk, then I want to play,” Haliburton said.
He added: “I’ve worked my whole life to be here, and I want to be out there to compete, help my teammates any way I can. I was not great tonight, by any means. But it’s not really a thought of mine to not play here.”
"I was not great tonight by any means, but... if I can walk then I wanna play."
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 17, 2025
Tyrese Haliburton speaks on the status of his injury sustained in Game 5 of the #NBAFinals.
Through five Finals games, Haliburton is averaging 15.0 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 45% from the field.
If he’s ruled out — or even significantly limited — the Pacers will be hard-pressed to overcome a surging Thunder team that has won two straight and now sits one win away from its first title in the OKC era.
Game 6 tips off on Friday (PH time), June 20 at 8:30 a.m. at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
