INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton has what he calls “a lower leg thing,” but the Pacers and Haliburton are not expecting it to cause an issue.
Haliburton walked with a noticeable limp following Oklahoma City’s 123-107 victory in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, June 8.
“I’m fine – really just a lower leg thing,” Haliburton said Tuesday, June 10, when he was walking with a normal gait. “I’ll leave it at that. I don’t think there’s anything more to elaborate. I feel fine and I’ll be ready to go for Game 3.”
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said: “At this time of year, I don’t know if anybody’s feeling perfect. … He practiced. He went through everything. I know he has some discomfort. He feels it. But each day it’s getting better. I don’t think you’re going to hear him making a big deal out of it.
“This is the time of year where it just doesn’t get any better than this. The atmosphere, the interest, the opportunity, coming back and being at home, I mean, there’s just so much to be excited about. We’ve got a couple guys that are slightly under the weather. I don’t think anything is going to keep these guys from playing in the game.”
It is unclear when he sustained “a lower leg thing.” Neither team has submitted an injury report for Game 3 on Wednesday, June 11, and Haliburton was not listed on the injury report before Game 2.
Haliburton made the winning shot in Indiana’s Game 1 victory. He is averaging 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists and shooting 50% from the field in the Finals. The scoring and assists numbers are below his season and playoff averages – both are areas the Pacers want to address.
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