If Tyreth Halliburton (Mavericks) is not available, will the Pacers have a chance to win Game 6?
In Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals, the Pacers lost 120-109. They trailed Oklahoma City 3-2 and entered Game 6 on Thursday night.
Pacers’ All-Star PG Tyrese Haliburton performed well during Monday night’s defeat. He scored 4 points from the field 0-6. After losing in Game 5, it was announced that Halliburton is dealing with the Mavericks’ injury. Is the 25-year-old able to sell in Game 6? Will the Indiana Pacers have a chance to win the game without Haliburton on Thursday night?
Tyrese Haliburton’s identity in Game 6 is questioned for Mavericks’ injury
Tyrese Haliburton’s biggest focus with “calf strain”
Calf strain->weak calf=Achilles risk pic.twitter.com/ardefhbotf
— DPT (@gameinjurydoc) Dr. Evan Jeffries June 17, 2025
The Indiana Pacers will back against the wall Thursday night. Oklahoma City has a 3-2 lead and they want to end it in Game 6. This is the magical run of the Pacers in the 2025 playoffs. Despite reaching the finals last season, no one chose the Pacers to make another entry in 2025. Indiana had a knockout game Thursday night.
If they lose, the Thunder wins the 2025 NBA Finals. The Pacers desperately need a victory to force Game 7 this Sunday. Pacers Tyrese Haliburton had 9:24 left in the second quarter of Game 5, with his right foot calf strain. Dr. Evan Jeffries explains why he believes Haliburton has handled the injury since Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Jeffries explains how the Pacers initially ruled his injury as an ankle injury. However, Jeffries believes the injury is related to Halliburton’s Mavericks.
Tyrese Haliburton enters Game 6 with a calf injury:
“This is the final, I’ve been working hard here all my life…If I can walk, I can play.”
(pass @TonyReast) pic.twitter.com/y9lyeyfg5q
– Legion Basketball (@legionhoops) June 17, 2025
NBA Insider Shams Charania said Tyrese Haliburton had an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. After losing in Game 5, Halliburton told the media: “If I can walk, I can play.” We have to wait and see if Indiana feels the same. Muscles with weaker calf muscles are at risk of damage to Achilles. This is the last thing the Pacers need for this season. If Haliburton is not available, will the Pacers have a chance to win?
Without Halliburton, head coach Rick Carlisle would have to adjust Indiana’s starting lineup. TJ McConnell is a backup PG, but he is more valuable on the Pacers’ bench. Bennedict Mathurin or Ben Sheppard can be inserted into the starting lineup. Pascal Siakam will bear Indiana’s scoring burden. Without Tyrese Haliburton, he will need to have one of the best playoffs of his career. Game 6 is Thursday at 8:30 pm ET.
