Is Tyrese Haliburton playing tonight? Pacers reveal status
The Indiana Pacers' NBA championship hopes hinge on Tyrese Haliburton's strained right calf.
On Wednesday, June 18, Carlisle said during a radio interview on 107.5 The Fan that Haliburton will probably be a "game-time decision" for Game 6. Indiana had officially listed Haliburton as questionable on the injury report headed into the game. As of Thursday afternoon, that status remained the same.
The Pacers need Haliburton's offense to have a chance at forcing a Game 7 in Oklahoma City. The Thunder easily won Game 5, 120-109, after Haliburton appeared to slip and injure his leg in the first quarter. OKC is seeking its second championship. The Thunder moved in 2008 from Seattle, where the franchise won the title in 1979 as the SuperSonics.
The Pacers went 4-5 this season in games which Haliburton did not appear. In such a case, Andrew Nembhard would likely move from shooting guard to point guard. In most cases this season when Haliburton did not play, Bennedict Mathurin moved into the starting lineup at shooting guard.
Haliburton is averaging 17.9 points and 9.1 assists per game in the playoffs. He's hit game-winning or game-tying shots in four playoff comebacks for the Pacers to help them reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000 and the second in franchise history.
Will Tyrese Haliburton play in NBA Finals Game 6?
Yes, Tyrese Haliburton will play in Game 6, with Pacers coach Rick Carlisle making the announcement during his pregame press conference.
“Tyrese is going to play,” Carlisle told reporters. “He was strength tested at 5 p.m. and did very well, went through walk-through. There’s no set minutes limit; we will watch and monitor things very closely from the beginning of the game through the entirety of the game, and we’ll go from there.”
Both Haliburton and Carlisle had said after Game 5 that the Pacers guard would play. However, Carlisle had also said they would monitor Haliburton and "evaluate everything with Tyrese."
Then, on Wednesday, Carlisle had said Haliburton probably would be a "game-time decision" and Haliburton confirmed he was diagnosed with a strained right calf.
The Pacers had listed Haliburton as questionable leading into the game.
When will we know if Tyrese Haliburton is playing in NBA Finals Game 6?
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle announced Thursday afternoon that Haliburton would play. He had said Wednesday that the Pacers “will not really know for sure until late (Thursday) afternoon or early evening.”
On Tuesday, Haliburton had an MRI on his right leg, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to Paste BN Sports. The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the injury.
Haliburton went through Indiana's entire 30-minute walkthrough practice Wednesday, June 18, as well as a 25-minute film session. He confirmed during a news conference after the practice that he was diagnosed with a right calf strain.
When is NBA Finals Game 6?
The Oklahoma City Thunder will play the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 on Thursday, June 19.
Where is NBA Finals Game 6?
The game is at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
What time is NBA Finals Game 6?
Game 6 is at 8:30 p.m. ET.
What channel is broadcasting NBA Finals Game 6?
ABC will carry Game 6.
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