It had previously been reported that the 25-year-old Olympian intended to give it a go, but his availability had not been confirmed. Haliburton had officially been a game-time decision to play through a right calf strain incurred in the first half of Game 5, a 120-109 loss on Monday.
The defeat marked the first time Indiana had lost two consecutive games in its entire run to the Finals this spring.
Across 21 contests in his second-ever playoffs, the 25-year-old has been averaging 17.9 PPG, 9.1 APG, 5.8 RPG, 1.3 SPG and 0.7 BPG. Those numbers were no doubt adversely affected by a clearly ailing Haliburton’s struggles in Game 5.
The Iowa State product failed to connect on a single field goal attempt, finishing with four points on 0-of-6 shooting. He did chip in seven rebounds and six assists.
Indiana, playing in its first Finals since 2000, now returns to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on the brink of elimination. The Pacers trail the Thunder 3-2 in the series.
Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault, in his own pregame presser, anticipated that Haliburton would give it his all, per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star.
“We’re expecting his best punch,” Daigneault said. “Indiana’s a great team, we’re expecting their best punch.”
