OKLAHOMA CITY — Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton insisted on playing through a sore right calf in the second half of Indiana's 120-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, despite concerns at halftime after he aggravated the injury during the first quarter Monday night.
Haliburton went to the locker room early in the game before returning in the second quarter with his calf wrapped. He finished the game, but his production was limited — he scored four points, matching the lowest scoring total of his playoff career, and finished without a field goal for the first time in his playoff career, going 0-of-6 from the field.
«It's the Finals,» Haliburton said. «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. If I can walk, then I want to play."
Haliburton limped off after his postgame news conference following Game 2, with what was later revealed to be a right ankle injury. On Monday he acknowledged this injury was in the «same area.»
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said it was clear Haliburton was not 100% but did not expect him to miss any games — especially with Indiana's season on the line following Monday's defeat.
The Pacers now trail 3-2 in the series; Game 6 is Thursday in Indianapolis.
"[Haliburton's] not a hundred percent," Carlisle said. «There's a lot of guys in the series that aren't.
»This is a lifetime opportunity. Not many guys are going to sit, even if they are a little banged up. If you're injured, that's a different story. But we'll evaluate everything with Tyrese and see how he wakes up tomorrow."
Haliburton had six total drives in Game
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