Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton had a disappointing game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The point guard scored only four points in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, and although his impact usually exceeds shotmaking, Haliburton didn’t look like his usual self.
Reports say that Haliburton has been dealing with ankle soreness during the postseason, but continued to play. However, in the first quarter of Game 5, he was attempting a drive-in against OKC’s Chet Holmgren. That was when he took an awkward fall and injured his right leg.
Despite this, Haliburton decided to play through the injury throughout the rest of the game, which resulted in a loss for the Pacers. Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho recently commented on this, taking aim at Haliburton for his decision.
Emmanuel Acho Blasts Tyrese Haliburton’s Decision to Play Through Injury
During his usual appearance on “The Facility,” Acho delivered his brutally honest take on how Haliburton tried to play despite the setback. “The most selfish thing I’ve seen Tyrese Halliburton do is try to play hurt, because he tried to be a hero. Oftentimes in basketball and sports, and even in this culture, we have this machismo, alpha male idea of ‘I’m gonna put the whole team on my back.'”
“The most selfish thing I’ve seen Tyrese Haliburton do is try to play hurt…He tried to be a hero. And what you did last night was put the whole L on your back.”
— @EmmanuelAcho pic.twitter.com/8nKSPOj1ev
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) June 17, 2025
“What you did last night was put the whole L on your back, Tyrese Halliburton, because your backup, [T.J.] McConnell, was the only player I would suggest that had a legitimate plus-minus, shout out to Bennedict [Mathurin] as well, in that game. McConnell had the second-most points scored in that game, but you, Tyrese Haliburton, thought that you were going to be a god,” Acho added.
As Acho mentions, McConnell put up a good performance in Game 5. He scored an impressive 18 points despite coming off the bench, and Acho is right in questioning whether Pacers’ backup PG could have performed better than Haliburton on the night.
Haliburton’s Injury Leaves Him in Doubt For Game 6
ESPN insider Shams Charania recently confirmed that Haliburton suffered a strain in his right calf, and he is set to undergo an MRI. Charania added that this is the same leg in which Haliburton had ankle soreness, indicating further that he has been trying to play through an injury for a while now.
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is believed to have suffered a strained right calf and will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the strain, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/4FTIoB1RVU
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 17, 2025
It isn’t a surprise that the two-time All-Star is not taking the setbacks seriously. After all, it’s the NBA Finals. Almost any player would try to shrug off their injuries and feature in a 30-minute game if it were possible, not to mention the costly resources that these high-profile players have at their disposal in order to be fit just for that game.
However, it should also be mentioned that McConnell may be a better option at the moment for the Pacers in Game 6, given his injury status. Considering that Haliburton’s status is in the air right now, Rick Carlisle may have to go with his backup.
McConnell is currently averaging 9.0 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in the playoffs this year, despite only playing in 16.7 minutes per game. The numbers tip the scales in his favor; we just have to wait for an official update from the Pacers on Haliburton’s calf strain to know if McConnell will be starting Game 6.
