Tyrese Haliburton Discussed Game 7 on Saturday
Tyrese Haliburton: “I’m Looking Forward to Adding to the Storied History of Game 7s”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK.–While preparing for the final game of the NBA Finals, Indiana Pacer guard Tyrese Haliburton told the media he is excited to “add to the storied history of Game 7s.”
On Saturday, he also addressed his calf strain injury he’s been dealing with which made him questionable going into Game 6. It was a game where the Pacers trounced the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 to force this decisive game for the NBA championship.
“I’m pretty much in the same standpoint. It’s a little sore. Good thing I only had to play like 23 minutes in Game 6, so I’ve been able to get even more treatment and do more things. Just trying to take care of it the best I can. I’ll be ready to go for Game 7,” said Haliburton.
He also emphasized the importance of “controlling the controllables.”
“Those are taking care of the ball, rebounding, and playing with the right energy. One of the most underrated aspects of basketball is momentum. You’ve got to weather the storm with those momentum swinging plays and create momentum stopping plays when you’re on the road,” said Haliburton.
Haliburton says he’s used to the national media having low expectations coming into the NBA playoffs.
“I think we’ve just done a great job ignoring all that and staying together,” said Haliburton.
Thunder Head Coach Mark Daigneault said he’s grateful that his team is playing in this Game 7, but also reiterated that being grateful for the opportunity isn’t deterring their focus.
“Once the ball goes up in the air, the game will still come down to the same things. We’ve got to be able to focus on that despite the fact that we’re grateful,” said Daigneault.
Game 7 is Sunday night at 8 pm at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Both the Thunder and Pacers are searching for their first NBA title.
