Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle will make a last-minute decision on Tyrese Haliburton’s fitness as his team prepare for Friday’s (Manila time) must-win National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Haliburton is an injury doubt for Game 6 in Indianapolis after suffering a calf strain in the Pacers’ on Monday that leaves the Thunder one game away from clinching the NBA crown.
Carlisle said the point guard would undergo a late fitness test to determine whether he will be in the starting lineup.
“As far as Tyrese, he’ll go through the day tomorrow,” Carlisle said.
“Our prep session is tomorrow late afternoon.”
“They’ll get together and do some testing. That will determine whether he plays or not. If he doesn’t play, we have a plan obviously if we’re without him.”
“We’ll see where we are tomorrow. We will not really know for sure until late tomorrow afternoon or early evening.”
Haliburton left Monday’s game late in the first quarter for treatment to his injured calf and insisted on returning to the game after a halftime discussion with Carlisle.
Haliburton said his determination to play in what is a must-win game for Indiana needed to be balanced against the potential long-term injury risk.
“I think it depends on who you ask. You’re asking me. I think I have to be as smart as I want to be. Have to understand the risks, ask the right questions,” Haliburton said.
“I’m a competitor; I want to play. I’m going to do everything in my power to play. That’s just what it is.”
Haliburton, meanwhile, is undergoing round-the-clock treatment in an effort to be ready for Thursday.
“Massage, needles, hyperbaric, H waves — everything you can do to get as comfortable as you can,” Haliburton said.
“Just doing everything I’m told. Trying to do everything I can.”
Meanwhile, reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stays focused, saying that he is not thinking about what awaits the Thunder.
“The cusp of winning is not winning,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who drew a solid performance from Jalen Williams to help the Thunder pull off a massive 120-109 win in Game 5 in Oklahoma City.