With the Indiana Pacers facing the Oklahoma City Thunder in a pivotal matchup, Haliburton’s grit was on full display—but so too were the physical limitations that hampered both his performance and Indiana’s hopes of taking control of the series.

Playing through pain

Haliburton’s postseason has been marked by clutch performances and late-game heroics, but Game 5 was a different story. Early in the first quarter, Haliburton left the floor to have his right calf examined after an awkward stumble on a drive, returning with his leg wrapped and iced.

Diagnosed with calf tightness, he was noticeably less explosive and struggled to find his rhythm all night. In 34 minutes, Haliburton failed to make a single field goal, finishing with just four points—all from the free-throw line—alongside seven rebounds and six assists. It was the first time in his playoff career that he went scoreless in a first half, and his four points tied a postseason low.

Despite the pain and ineffectiveness, Haliburton made it clear why he refused to sit out:

“I mean, it’s the NBA Finals. It’s the Finals, man. I’ve worked my whole life to be here, and I want to be out there to compete. Help my teammates any way I can. I was not great tonight by any means, but it was not really a thought to not play here. If I can walk then I want to play,” Haliburton said after the game.

His coach, Rick Carlisle, confirmed Haliburton’s injury status but praised his resolve, saying, “He’s not 100%, it’s pretty clear. But I don’t think he’s going to miss the next game”.

Impact on the Pacers and the series

Haliburton’s struggles were a major storyline in the Pacers’ 120–109 defeat, which put Indiana down 3–2 in the series and on the brink of elimination.

While Pascal Siakam and T.J. McConnell stepped up—McConnell in particular providing a spark off the bench with 18 points—Indiana missed Haliburton’s usual playmaking and scoring punch, especially in the clutch. The Thunder’s defense, led by Lu Dort, hounded Haliburton throughout, and the Pacers’ 23 turnovers (leading to 32 OKC points) proved costly.

Haliburton’s injury has now become the dominant subplot as the Finals shift back to Indianapolis for Game 6. Questions linger about how effective he can be, and whether the Pacers might turn more to McConnell if Haliburton’s mobility remains compromised.

As the Pacers face elimination, Haliburton’s willingness to fight through injury underscores both the stakes of the NBA Finals and the fine line between heroism and heartbreak at basketball’s highest level. Whether he can recover enough to make a difference in Game 6 could determine if Indiana’s season ends or if they get one more shot at glory.