Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Exits Game 5 With Leg Issue, Expected for Game 6

Indiana Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton has been dealing with a right lower leg issue during the NBA Finals, which visibly affected his performance in Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Haliburton struggled offensively, going scoreless in the first half for the first time in his playoff career, and briefly left the game for treatment before returning with his leg wrapped. Despite his injury, Haliburton contributed seven rebounds and six assists but shot poorly overall, finishing with just four points, and his limited mobility raised concerns about his impact moving forward. The Pacers were able to mount a comeback in Game 5 but ultimately lost 120-109, falling behind 3-2 in the series, with TJ McConnell and Pascal Siakam leading the team in scoring. The series will return to Indiana for a decisive Game 6, where much attention will be on whether Haliburton can recover and perform at his usual level to help stave off elimination. The lower leg tightness remains a key factor to monitor as the Pacers aim to extend their finals run.