The Indiana Pacers ran into a major setback in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Star guard Tyrese Haliburton struggled, scoring just four points as the team was overwhelmed by the Oklahoma City Thunder. To make matters worse, he exited midgame with what appeared to be a significant injury, casting doubt on Indiana’s championship hopes.
Head coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged that Haliburton has been dealing with discomfort since the start of the series but downplayed the severity. After the loss, Carlisle provided an update to reassure fans and clarify Haliburton’s status moving forward.
Rick Carlisle’s Update on Tyrese Haliburton Injury Situation
Despite the suffering and the pain, Carlisle pointed out that Haliburton insisted on checking back into the game in the second half.
“He’s not 100%,” Carlisle said. “It’s pretty clear. But I don’t think he’s going to miss the next game,” Carlisle said. “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%. There’s a lot of guys in this series that aren’t.”
Rick Carlisle said Haliburton insisted on playing in the second half.
“He’s not 100%. It’s pretty clear. But I don’t think he’s going to miss the next game.”
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) June 17, 2025
Haliburton briefly exited Game 5 after appearing to aggravate a lower right leg injury, grabbing at it in visible discomfort. He logged just over 10 minutes in the first quarter before heading to the locker room. Haliburton later returned to the bench with his lower leg wrapped and checked back in with 8:27 remaining in the second quarter.
The injury has lingered throughout the Finals. Haliburton was seen limping after Game 2 and appeared to shake it off again ahead of Game 3.
“I’m fine,” Haliburton said. “Really just a lower leg thing. I’ll leave it at that. I don’t think there’s anything more to elaborate.”
The Pacers got off to a sluggish start in Game 5, with Haliburton visibly struggling to find his rhythm. Indiana trailed for most of the night, unable to close the gap as Oklahoma City jumped out to a 32-22 lead after the first quarter.
The Thunder set the tone early and maintained control throughout, building a double-digit advantage by halftime and holding off the Pacers in the second half.
Haliburton played through the discomfort but never found his shooting touch. He finished with just four points, all from the free-throw line, along with seven rebounds and six assists. Indiana ultimately fell 120-109 to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, who now lead the series 3-2.
The Pacers now face their toughest test of the postseason, trailing in a series for the first time during this playoff run. After battling past the Bucks, Cavaliers, and Knicks, the stakes are higher than ever.
If Indiana hopes to keep its championship dreams alive, it must respond in Game 6 on Thursday. Anything less, and the franchise’s pursuit of its first Larry O’Brien Trophy will come to an end.
