The Pacers toiled in the first quarter of their Game 5 matchup with the Thunder, struggling to produce points amid a forest of Oklahoma City limbs.
Indiana tallied just 22 points in the opening frame. Its talisman, Tyrese Haliburton, looked noticeably less effective than usual, failing to record a point as Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, and, for fleeting moments, Chet Holmgren, shadowed his movements.
Perhaps one reason for Haliburton’s struggles? An awkward landing he experienced in the game’s opening moments.
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Here’s what you need to know about Haliburton’s health after he exited the game briefly with a leg issue.
MORE NBA FINALS GAME 5:
Tyrese Haliburton injury update
Haliburton disappeared into the locker room following the conclusion of the first quarter. The Pacers star soon emerged from the tunnel sporting a bulky wrap of ice and gauze. He walked with a noticeable limp.
Haliburton looked to have hurt himself after losing his balance while attempting to drive past Holmgren earlier in the first.
Tyrese Haliburton injured his right leg and went back to the locker room after this play.
He came back and returned to the game in the 2nd quarter. pic.twitter.com/ZDl9Z3oJ2D
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 17, 2025
Haliburton remained fixed to the bench for the opening three minutes of the second quarter before eventually returning, though he failed to score in his nearly 17 minutes on the court in the first half.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Haliburton is dealing with right calf tightness. His right leg came under threat during Game 2, as well, when Haliburton limped off the floor with “ankle soreness,” per Charania.
After the game, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the team was concerned about Haliburton’s calf, but the point guard insisted on playing in the second half.
Carlisle on Haliburton: “He’s not at 100%. But I don’t think he’s gonna miss the next game. There’s a lot of guys in this series that aren’t” pic.twitter.com/FawOWtihfp
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) June 17, 2025
Tyrese Haliburton stats in Game 5
Final score: Thunder 120, Pacers 109
- Minutes: 34
- Points: 4
- Rebounds: 7
- Assists: 6
- Steals: 0
- Blocks: 0
- TOs: 3
- Fouls: 3
- FG: 0-6
- 3FG: 0-4
- FT: 4-4
Haliburton struggled mightily in the first half, seeing each of his five shot attempts clank. He only tallied two assists in his first 17 minutes of action, both of which came in the first quarter.
He appeared to have pep in his step upon his return to the contest. But of his five shot attempts, four came from beyond the arc.
The toils continued for Haliburton as the game wore on. He finished the match without a field goal, representing only the seventh time in his career that he’s accomplished such a “feat.”
Despite his injury, he remains confident that he’ll play in Game 6.
“I mean, it’s the NBA Finals,” Haliburton told reporters postgame. “I’ve worked my whole life to be here. It’s not really a thought of mine to not play here. If I can walk, then I want to play.”
Coach Rick Carlisle echoed that sentiment, noting that Haliburton ‘isn’t 100 percent’ but expects him to play in Game 6.
