It likely comes as no surprise, but Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton will be on the court in his team’s do-or-die home game Thursday night.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed Haliburton’s availability at his pregame press conference.
“Tyrese will play,” Carlisle told reporters.
“He was strength tested at 5 p.m. and did very well. Went through walkthrough. There’s no set minutes limit. We will watch and monitor things very closely from the beginning of the game through the entirety of the game. We’ll go from there.”
When pressed for additional information, Carlisle played it close to the vest.
“I told you everything I’m going to tell you about it,” the coach said. “He went through walkthrough. He walked through stuff yesterday. We’ve had walkthroughs the last two days. But that’s where things are. He’s going to play.”
Haliburton strained his right calf in the first quarter of Game 5. He went on to play an impressive 34 minutes in the game, but was virtually nonexistent offensively, despite being the linchpin of so many of the Pacers’ wild comebacks this postseason.
The 25-year-old point guard scored only 4 points in the game and did not failed to convert a single field goal in Game 5.
After that game, Haliburton acknowledged his subpar play, but didn’t mince words about his intention to lace ‘em up for an elimination game.
“It’s the Finals, man. I’ve worked my whole life to be here and I want to be out there to compete,” Haliburton said.
“I was not great tonight by any means, but it’s not really a thought of mine to not play here. If I can walk, then I want to play. … Got to be ready to go for Game 6.”
