The Indiana Pacers know the stakes — and they’re ready to fight.
Back home for Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Indiana must win to stay alive and force a Game 7 against the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder.
As for Tyrese Haliburton? He’s expected to give it a go.
The All-Star guard exited Game 5 with a calf injury, but with the season on the line, he’s planning to suit up — even if he’s far from full strength — for Thursday’s do-or-die clash at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Before you make your NBA picks, let’s dive into what we know and how it could affect tonight's contest.
Will Tyrese Haliburton play in Game 6?
Latest Tyrese Haliburton injury news
According to a report from Shams Charania, Tyrese Haliburton is expected to suit up for the Indiana Pacers and give it a go.
"He's fully intending to be out there tonight. He's going to gut it out."@ShamsCharania gives an update on Tyrese Haliburton ahead of Game 6 of the NBA Finals ✍️ (via @PatMcAfeeShow) pic.twitter.com/QOz8Zfl4UI
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 19, 2025
From a team morale perspective, Haliburton's willingness to play through injury in the biggest game of his career should give his teammates a little extra motivation to get the job done.
The biggest question now, is how effective can he be and will he become a liability on defense with his (expected) limited mobility.
His willingness to play is a complete 180 from Wednesday's report where Rick Carlisle is on record of saying the team is preparing to play Game 6 without him.
BREAKING: Rick Carlisle says the Pacers are preparing to play Game 6 without Tyrese Haliburton, h/t @esidery
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 18, 2025
His official status will be determined tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/O3FyPB2N8F
Haliburton has been the straw that stirs the drink all season long, and finding a way to replace his 18.6 points per game and 9.2 assists (regular season stats) is something the Pacers will struggle to do if he's limited in any capacity.
More NBA picks and odds from Covers
Tyrese Haliburton injury history
Tyrese Haliburton has dealt with several injuries throughout his NBA career, many of them recurring or impacting critical stretches of the season.
In January 2024, he strained his left hamstring, which cost him around 13 games. Unfortunately, that same hamstring flared up again during the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, forcing him to miss the remainder of the series.
His injury woes continued into 2025, as he dealt with a combination of minor issues affecting his ankle, hip, groin, and back throughout the regular season.
Most recently, during the 2025 NBA Finals, Haliburton appeared visibly hampered by right ankle soreness and calf tightness, particularly after Game 2.
He attempted to push through in Game 5 but was clearly limited, later being diagnosed with a right calf strain. He’s now undergoing an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.
Thunder vs Pacers odds
Thunder vs Pacers game info
| Location: | Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN |
| Date: | Thursday, 6-19-2025 |
| Kickoff: | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ABC |
