OKLAHOMA CITY — Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton insisted on enjoying by way of a sore proper calf within the second half of Indiana’s 120-109 loss to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in Sport 5 of the NBA Finals, regardless of issues at halftime after he aggravated the damage through the first quarter Monday night time.
Haliburton went to the locker room early within the sport earlier than returning within the second quarter together with his calf wrapped. He completed the sport, however his manufacturing was restricted — he scored 4 factors, matching the bottom scoring whole of his playoff profession, and completed and not using a area purpose for the primary time in his playoff profession, going 0-of-6 from the sphere.
“It is the Finals,” Haliburton mentioned. “I’ve labored my entire life to be right here and I wish to be on the market to compete, assist my teammates any manner I can.
“I used to be not nice tonight by any means, but it surely’s not likely a considered mine to not play right here. If I can stroll, then I wish to play.”
Haliburton limped off after his postgame information convention following Sport 2, with what was later revealed to be a proper ankle damage. On Monday he acknowledged this damage was within the “identical space.”
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle mentioned it was clear Haliburton was not 100% however didn’t count on him to overlook any video games — particularly with Indiana’s season on the road following Monday’s defeat.
The Pacers now path 3-2 within the sequence; Sport 6 is Thursday in Indianapolis.
“[Haliburton’s] not one hundred percent,” Carlisle mentioned. “There’s numerous guys within the sequence that are not.
“It is a lifetime alternative. Not many guys are going to take a seat, even when they’re a bit of banged up. If you happen to’re injured, that is a distinct story. However we’ll consider all the things with Tyrese and see how he wakes up tomorrow.”
Haliburton had six whole drives in Sport 5, based on monitoring by GeniusIQ, his fewest in a sport this postseason and tied for the second fewest in a playoff sport in his profession.
However he nonetheless did his finest to make an affect, including six assists and 7 rebounds in 34 minutes.
“Simply making an attempt to maintain tempo within the sport, affect no matter manner I can,” Haliburton mentioned. “Attempt to get the ball to guys in the suitable spots if I can.”
Nonetheless, it is going to be laborious for the Pacers to tug off an upset over the Thunder if Haliburton is proscribed. They’re 6-7 this postseason when Haliburton scores 20 or fewer factors (8-0 when he scores greater than 20).
“He is a fighter,” mentioned Pacers ahead Pascal Siakam, who led the staff with 28 factors. “He is been our rock all 12 months. He is an enormous cause why we’re right here. I do not know precisely what’s mistaken, however I do know he is preventing and he’ll give us all the things he is obtained.
“One factor he confirmed, his resiliency. He confirmed that every one 12 months. We are able to proceed to rely on him to maintain preventing. I love that from him, simply because I do know that it is laborious. We have a few days. Care for our our bodies, relaxation properly and be prepared for Sport 6.”
Even with Haliburton restricted Monday night time, the Pacers rallied from a double-digit first-half deficit to chop the result in 95-93 with 8:30 remaining within the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, the Thunder went on a 25-16 run to finish the sport.
Indiana completed with 22 turnovers, which led to 32 factors for Oklahoma Metropolis.
“We really feel like we did a superb job within the second half of placing tempo within the sport, and actually getting out and working,” Haliburton mentioned. “We thought we did a greater job of that within the second half, however now we have to actually lower down on the turnovers. The turnovers are actually killing us proper now, particularly the primary half. We all know we will be higher there.”
Monday’s loss was the primary time all postseason the Pacers have dropped back-to-back video games, ending a streak relationship again to March. Resiliency is one thing Indiana has prided itself on all through this playoff run.
Haliburton mentioned the Pacers are going to should faucet into that once more to maintain their season alive.
“We have had our backs towards the wall many alternative occasions over the past two years and needed to discover alternative ways to win,” he mentioned. “The way in which that this 12 months has gone, no person mentioned this was going to be candy.
“It is form of poetic that we’re right here. We have to be able to go for Sport 6. Our backs are towards the wall. It is a actually powerful staff. … Everyone needs to be ready. It begins with me, and we have all obtained to be higher. That is simply point-blank, interval.”