Haliburton’s Tough Night: Pacers Fall Behind 3-2 in NBA Finals

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton had a tough night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday, playing through an injury.

Despite his efforts, Haliburton missed all six of his field-goal attempts, ending the game with four points, seven rebounds, and six assists in 34 minutes.

The Pacers lost 120-109 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, falling behind 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.

Haliburton was dealing with calf tightness in his right leg, the same leg he injured his ankle in previously. Coach Rick Carlisle noted that Haliburton wasn’t 100 percent, but believes he’ll be ready for the next game.

Carlisle praised Haliburton’s determination, saying, “We were concerned at halftime. He insisted on playing. I thought he made a lot of really good things happen in the second half. But he’s not 100 percent.”

This game marked a significant departure from Haliburton’s usual performance in the Finals, where he’s been averaging 17.8 points, 7.5 assists, and six rebounds.

In Game 1, Haliburton delivered a clutch jump shot to sink the Thunder on their home court, securing a 111-110 win for the Pacers.