Just one week ago, concern surrounding Tyrese Haliburton centered around a noticeable limp after Game 2, tied to what Dr. David Chao diagnosed as right Achilles tendonitis. That condition, while painful and limiting, was something Haliburton could play through, and he did. But the situation has taken a turn for the worse as the Indiana Pacers prepare for a must-win Game 6.
Based on tape review and practice footage, Haliburton was compensating for his Achilles issue. That compensation has now resulted in a right calf strain, a muscle injury that brings a more severe and limiting challenge. Unlike tendonitis, which can often be managed, calf strains typically take multiple weeks to heal, not days.
At Sports Injury Central, Haliburton's SIC Score has dropped from 82 to 68 following this latest development. The decline in effectiveness reflects what fans and analysts have seen on the court:
• 1-for-11 from three in the last two games
• Increased turnovers
• Reduced explosiveness and lateral quickness on defense
With Indiana trailing 3–2 in the series, Haliburton’s limited mobility is a major blow. While he's shown incredible toughness, his ability to drive, defend, and shoot from range is clearly affected. Even if the Pacers manage to force a Game 7, his condition is unlikely to improve significantly with such little recovery time.
Dr. Chao notes that Haliburton’s calf strain stems directly from compensating for his original Achilles issue. That combination makes it nearly impossible for him to play at full speed. “He has the heart of a lion,” Chao says, “but 68 percent effectiveness is not enough in the playoffs.”
Tyrese Haliburton will continue to battle through pain because that’s who he is. But the version of him we’ll see in Game 6 won’t be close to 100 percent. Without a dramatic team-wide step-up, the Pacers' postseason could end Friday night.
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