Pacers' Carlisle Expects Tyrese Haliburton to Play Game 6 vs. Thunder amid Calf Injury
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said Tyrese Haliburton insisted on playing in the second half of Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday despite dealing with a calf injury.
"He's not 100 percent. It's pretty clear. But I don't think he's going to miss the next game," Carlisle said.
At halftime, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Haliburton was experiencing calf tightness in the same leg he injured last week.
Despite the team debating shutting the 25-year-old down at halftime, he returned for the second half and logged 34 total minutes in the Pacers' 120-109 loss to the Thunder.
He played a shade over 10 minutes in the first quarter before heading to the locker room, later returning with his lower leg wrapped and checking back in with 8:27 remaining in the second quarter.
Whatever the leg issue is, specifically, it's lingered for much of the series. Haliburton appeared to be limping after Game 2 but downplayed the concern ahead of Game 3.
"I'm fine," he told reporters before the Pacers' 116-107 Game 3 victory. "Really just a lower leg thing. I'll leave it at that. I don't think there's anything more to elaborate."
The point guard has been averaging 17.8 points, 7.5 assists and six rebounds over his first four Finals appearances, but for the first time in 36 career playoff games, he was scoreless entering halftime.
Haliburton finished Game 5 with four points, seven rebounds and six assists.
