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Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton is reportedly believed to have suffered a strained right calf injury during his team's Game 5 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals Monday (June 16) night, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN's Shams Charania.
"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," Charania wrote on his X account.
Haliburton suffered the injury during the first quarter of Monday's game but returned in the second with his calf wrapped, finishing four points on 0-6 shooting (0-4 3-pointers), his lowest scoring total of his playoff career, along with seven rebounds and six assists. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged that the two-time All-Star wasn't 100% after the game, though Haliburton said he intends to play in the must-win Game 6 at Indianapolis.
"If I can walk, then I want to play," Haliburton said via ESPN.
Haliburton previously limped off the court after an apparently right ankle injury in Game 2 and confirmed that the innjury was in the "same area" on Monday. The former Iowa State standout is averaging 15.0 points, 7.2 assists and 6.2 rebounds, while shooting 45%, during his first five games of the NBA Finals.