Tyrese Haliburton is ready to go for Game 3 of the NBA Finals despite having a noticeable limp during his post-game press conference on Sunday.
After the Indiana Pacers lost, 123-107, to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Haliburton seemed unstable while getting off stage. The video of his walk quickly gained traction online and was brought to his attention during Tuesday’s media availability.
As the series shifts to Indiana for Games 3 and 4, Haliburton briefly addressed the limp and said he is ready to go for Wednesday in front of his home crowd.
“I’m fine, [it] was really just a lower leg thing,” Haliburton said. “I’ll leave it at that, I don’t think there’s anything more to elaborate. I feel fine and ready for Game 3.”
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was also asked about the limp and said, “He practiced. He went through everything.”
“I know he has some discomfort,” Carlisle continued. “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.”
Haliburton recorded 17 points and six assists in Indiana’s losing effort. In Game 1, Haliburton capped off his 14-point, 10-rebound double-double with a last-second game-winner to nail the 111-110 victory.
Alongside former champion Pascal Siakam, Haliburton spearheaded the Pacers out of the East against significant competition. The Pacers defeated Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks and the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games. They then bested the New York Knicks in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Indiana is looking for its first NBA title in its second Finals appearance, the last one being in 2000.
The Pacers and Thunder tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday.
Read the full article here