OKLAHOMA CITY — For three and a half quarters, Game 5 had some Game 1 vibes. Oklahoma City was the better, more aggressive team; their defense was smothering, and they rediscovered their 3-point shot. Still, the Thunder could not pull away, and while the lead reached 18 at one point in the second quarter, the Pacers just kept hanging around within striking distance.
Then, behind an epic T.J. McConnell 13-point quarter, the Pacers cut the lead to two in the third and waves of concern washed over the Paycom Center. Thunder fans had seen this movie before and did not enjoy the ending.
Two things kept this from being Game 1.
First, Tyrese Haliburton tweaked his calf in the first quarter and was not the player who could cap off a comeback. Haliburton slipped on a drive and appeared to aggravate his left calf, the same one that had him limping slightly after Game 2. He left the game, went back to the locker room, came out about five minutes later and eventually returned to the court, playing 34 minutes on the night. Still, after he came back, it looked like he had trouble pushing off with his right leg, and he was not the same player.
Tyrese Haliburton injured his right leg and went back to the locker room after this play.
He came back and returned to the game in the 2nd quarter. pic.twitter.com/ZDl9Z3oJ2D
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 17, 2025
“He’s not 100%, it’s pretty clear,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said postgame. “But I don’t think he’s going to miss the next game. We were concerned at halftime, and he insisted on playing. I thought he made a lot of really good things happen in the second half. But he’s not 100%.”
Haliburton was not limping after the game, walking into his press conference.
“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. “Help my teammates any way I can. 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.”
Haliburton said this injury, whatever the…
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