This was the first time in his postseason career that he was held without a single point in a first half.
It also marked the first time Indiana Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton — who was slowed by a lower right leg injury, an issue that has lingered since the Eastern Conference finals — failed to make a single basket in an entire playoff game.
His four points matched a career playoff low.
If there was one revelation to come from Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday, June 16 — a 120-109 Oklahoma City victory that put the Thunder one win from a title — it’s that the Pacers, simply put, cannot win these NBA Finals if this is the Tyrese Haliburton that they are going to get.
The injury complicates matters further; Haliburton stumbled midway through the first quarter and immediately favored his right calf, the same leg he hurt in the previous round. Haliburton said he wasn't sure if this injury was related to the previous round's but acknowledged it was to the same area. Regardless, he insisted he will not miss time.
