Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball as Cason Wallace #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder plays defense during Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 5, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Logan Riely, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP
LOS ANGELES - Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has been declared fit for Thursday's must-win NBA Finals clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder, head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed.
Carlisle told reporters that Haliburton, who had been struggling with a right calf strain, would start as the Pacers attempt to force a game seven.
"Tyrese will play. He was tested at 5 pm. He was strength tested at 5 pm and did very well," Carlisle said.
"Went through walkthrough. There's no set minutes limit. We will watch and monitor things very closely from the beginning of the game through the entirety of the game. We'll go from there."
Carlisle declined to elaborate further on Haliburton's fitness.
"I told you everything I'm going to tell you about it," he said. "He went through walkthrough. He walked through stuff yesterday. We've had walkthroughs the last two days.
"But that's where things are. He's going to play. That's it."
Oklahoma City lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and will clinch the NBA title with victory in Indianapolis later Thursday.
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