The last time the NBA Finals went to a Game 7 was in 2016. Now, nearly a decade later, we’re getting another ride on the volcano as the Pacers and Thunder head to Game 7, set for Sunday night in Oklahoma City.
While Tyrese Haliburton has been one of the most hyped names of this series, he wasn’t especially sharp scoring-wise on Thursday night. But the entire crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse saw his grit as he suited up despite a right calf injury. After the game, Pascal Siakam praised the All-Star guard’s determination following the 108–91 win over the OKC Thunder.
Pascal Siakam Shows Respect to Tyrese Haliburton’s Courage in Game 6 vs. OKC
Haliburton’s right calf injury happened during Game 5, not Game 6. Actually, he had been managing lower leg issues throughout the series, but it got worse during Game 5. Early in that game, while driving to the basket, he worsened the strain and showed clear signs of pain. Despite this, he pushed through and finished the game, but his movement was limited.
Going into Game 6, there were real doubts about whether he’d be able to play. But when the Pacers hit the floor in front of their home crowd, Haliburton was right there with them. The team came out strong, building a 31-point lead and dominating the second quarter by outscoring the Thunder 36–17.
Haliburton, still dealing with the pain, scored 14 points and handed out 5 assists in just 23 minutes. His numbers may not look overwhelming, especially since he missed his first four shots, but his impact was far better than you can imagine.
Let’s talk about the memorable moment that earned him the respect of the entire arena. At one point in the game, he jumped into the passing lane for a steal and tiptoed along the sideline. When he saw Siakam, he spun and made a no-look pass. Siakam then successfully finished it with a dunk over two defenders. You can’t call it a bad game for someone who was barely playing on two legs.
In the postgame press meet, when asked about Haliburton’s effort, Siakam said, “He’s a tough kid. I had no doubt that he was going to be out there with us. It just shows he’s one of our leaders on the team and he’s doing everything he can to be out there for us, and we appreciate that.”
Siakam also delivered a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Obi Toppin led the team with 20 points off the bench. But honestly speaking, Haliburton’s 14-point effort deserves extra credit. He helped settle the Pacers’ offense when they needed it most. Even more, he energizes the home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
