“I’m glad he’s injured”: Stephen A. Smith makes stunning statement on Tyrese Haliburton’s battle with calf injury

Stephen A. Smith made a headline-grabbing remark about Tyrese Haliburton during the halftime show of Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the OKC Thunder on Monday. As NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Haliburton was dealing with right calf tightness, an explanation for his underwhelming first-half performance, Smith didn’t hold back in his critique.

The veteran analyst was brutally honest, calling Haliburton’s first-half showing “awful.” In a shocking statement, Smith even remarked that he was “glad” the point guard was injured, implying it provided some justification for the Paris Olympic gold medalist’s struggles.

“Haliburton has looked awful and I’m glad he’s injured,” Smith said.

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Tyrese Haliburton had a rough outing in the first half of Game 5, struggling to find his rhythm on the offensive end. His scoring woes were evident and had a direct impact on the Pacers, who trailed by 14 points at halftime, with the Thunder leading 59-45.

Haliburton failed to score in the opening half, going 0-for-5 from the field, including 0-for-4 from 3-point range. In 16:54 minutes, he managed just one rebound, two assists and committed a turnover, an uncharacteristically quiet performance from the Pacers’ floor general.

What happened to Tyrese Haliburton?

Tyrese Haliburton was seen limping out of the press room after speaking to the media following the Indiana Pacers' Game 2 loss to the OKC Thunder, sparking concern within the franchise. It was later revealed that the star point guard was dealing with a right calf issue, raising alarms about his availability for the remainder of the series.

Fortunately for the Pacers, the injury wasn’t as serious as initially feared. Haliburton returned to practice ahead of Game 3 and went on to suit up for Indiana’s first home Finals game in 25 years. Despite the lingering discomfort, the Pacers' floor general has continued to play in every game of the series, showcasing his resilience and commitment.

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About the author

Atishay Jain

Atishay Jain is a sports aficionado and an avid follower of the NBA and WNBA, with a deep admiration for LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo. Currently, he serves as an Assistant Content Manager with Sportskeeda's basketball team.

Atishay's career spans both Indian and international sports coverage, with a keen interest in cricket, football, basketball, and tennis. His previous roles at News9Live and Sports Tak included live blogging, anchoring sports shows, and participating in debates.

A graduate in Journalism from the Center for Management Studies in Bengaluru, India, Atishay brings a wealth of experience and passion to his work in sports media.

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