Haliburton Vows to Battle Through Injury: ‘If I Can Walk, I’m Playing’ as Pacers Eye Game 6 Redemption
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed on Monday that Tyrese Haliburton is dealing with a lower leg injury, which clearly affected his performance during the Pacers’ Game 5 loss. Despite the discomfort, Haliburton’s commitment to his team and the Finals is unwavering.
“I’ve worked my whole life for this moment,” said Haliburton after the game. “I want to be out there competing, doing whatever I can to help my teammates.” Although he admitted that his play wasn’t up to his usual standard, Haliburton emphasized that sitting out isn’t an option. “If I can walk, I want to play,” he added. “It’s the Finals. I’m going to fight through it.”
With two full days of rest before Game 6 in Indiana on Thursday, the Pacers are hopeful that Haliburton will be at least closer to 100%. Carlisle echoed this sentiment, expressing confidence that his star guard will suit up, despite not being fully healthy. “He’s not 100%, but I doubt he’ll miss Game 6,” Carlisle said.
If the Pacers can win Thursday’s game and force a Game 7, the series will shift back to Oklahoma City on Sunday. The stakes couldn’t be higher for Haliburton and his teammates, who will need to lean on their star guard’s leadership and resilience to extend their championship hopes.
