According to Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, the status of star guard Tyrese Haliburton for Thursday’s must-win Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder will be a ‘game-time decision’. The Pacers trail the Thunder, 3-2, and need a win at home to force a Game 7.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Haliburton is believed to have suffered a strained right calf during Game 5 on Monday, and needs an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. He left Game 5 late in the first quarter and returned to the bench area with a wrap on his lower leg; he later returned to the game and played 34 minutes — but missed all six of his shots in the second half, finishing the game with seven rebounds and six assists, but only four points.

Carlisle said in a radio interview on Wednesday morning: “He [Haliburton] is going to be carefully evaluated over the next 36 hours and will likely be listed as questionable on the injury report and probably will be a game-time decision for Game 6 … We have to prepare for two scenarios — one where he plays and one where he does not.”

Haliburton, however, has made it clear after Game 5 that he wants to try and play, despite the injured calf:  “I mean it’s the NBA Finals.. It’s the Finals. 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’s not really a thought of mine to not play here. If I can walk, then I want to play. They understand that. And it is what it is. Got to be ready to go for Game 6.“

If Haliburton is ruled out, it’s likely that the Pacers would promote guard TJ McConnell to a starting role. McConnell has been playing strong, and sparked a rally where the Pacers closed an 18-point deficit to a two-point difference in the second half of Game 5, before OKC eventually won the game.

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