Tyrese Haliburton is dealing with a strained calf that he suffered in Game 5 and Pacers’ head coach Rick Carlisle stated Wednesday morning in a radio interview that Haliburton will be a game-time decision for Thursday’s Game 6 in Indiana. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday that Haliburton will have an MRI to determine the severity of his calf injury, but the results of that MRI have yet to be announced.
Following the Haliburton injury news Tuesday, the lines for Game 6 have unsurprisingly moved on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Pacers were a +164 underdog on the moneyline as of 1:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, but those odds have moved to +210. As for the spread, Indiana has moved from a 5.5-point underdog to a 6.5-point underdog. Below are the current betting splits for Game 6.
Thunder vs. Pacers Game 6 Betting Splits
With 67% of the handle and 56% of the bets backing the Thunder -6.5, there is a chance of Oklahoma City becoming a seven-point favorite before tip-off Thursday, as most of the new money is likely to keep coming in on the Thunder with Haliburton being labeled as a game-time decision.
While the guard was able to play through the injury and log 34 minutes in Game 5, Haliburton was very ineffective, finishing with four points, seven rebounds and six assists. The 25-year-old went 0-for-6 from the field and finished -13 in plus/minus, which was the second-worst in the box score for Indiana.
Haliburton has been outstanding and very clutch this postseason, and if he isn’t 100% or ends up inactive, the Pacers are likely in big trouble. With Haliburton out this season, Indiana owns a 4-5 record. To make matters worse, on the other side of this matchup is a true powerhouse in the Thunder, who are oozing with confidence right now after two straight wins. After a victory this season, Oklahoma City is a terrific 63-19. Furthermore, the Thunder are a league-best 63-37-4 ATS and 50-29-3 ATS following a win.
Backing the Thunder at -6.5 is the right move in this situation and doing it quickly is wise, before the line keeps moving.
As for the total, 81% of the handle and 77% for the bets are for over 222.5 points, and tailing the public here is smart, despite Haliburton’s injury. In the nine games the guard has missed this season, Indiana remained elite offensively as a team, averaging 118.8 PPG.
