Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals didn’t exactly go Indiana’s way, and Tyrese Haliburton’s stat line tells part of the story—17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-8 from deep over 34 minutes. Solid numbers, no doubt. But anyone watching could tell something was off. Haliburton’s usual zip? Missing. His offensive rhythm? A little out of sync. There were no obvious bumps, bruises, or hard falls during the game, and no trips to the trainers. Still, that dip had fans and analysts raising eyebrows.

Then came the postgame twist. A video surfaced of Haliburton arriving at and leaving his press conference with a subtle but noticeable limp. Reporters from The Athletic, SI.com, and more flagged it immediately. No flashy injury moment on the court, but that limp told a different story—one that’s got folks wondering what’s going on under the radar.

Before Game 2, Haliburton was listed as fully available—no fresh injury updates after his clutch Game 1 showing. Sure, he’s been playing through a nagging wrist issue all playoffs, but this limp is new. No official word from Indiana yet, and Haliburton himself didn’t address it postgame, focusing instead on regrouping and the buzz of bringing the Finals back home.

The thing is, Tyrese Haliburton is the Pacers’ engine. When he’s off, it shows. He struggled to find his groove until the fourth quarter, where he sparked a late push—too little, too late. He logged heavy minutes, and the fatigue could be real. But a limp noticeable enough for reporters to catch? That’s more than just tired legs.

The Pacers haven’t said a word on the status, leaving fans to speculate if this is a cramp, fatigue, or something deeper. Either way, with two days off before Game 3 in Indiana, this limp is the storyline to watch. Haliburton’s health could tilt this series in a heartbeat—because in these Finals, every edge counts.

Pacers without Tyrese Haliburton: When the engine goes quiet, the whole ride slows down

Here’s the deal — Indiana without Tyrese Haliburton is like a car running on fumes. This season, the Pacers are a flat 0-3 when he’s off the floor. Last year, they at least managed to squeak out wins without him, but now? The team’s net rating takes a nosedive, losing about 2.4 points per 100 possessions without their point guard maestro.

Tyrese isn’t just dropping buckets—he’s calling the plays, pace, and setting the whole offense on fire. The dude’s dishing 75 passes a game, ranking him no.1 in the league. With him in the lineup, the Pacers shoot lights out—38.8% from downtown and nearly 60% inside the arc. Without him? Those numbers tank hard. Shots get rushed, spacing turns into a mess, and suddenly the offense looks like it forgot the playbook.

And it’s not just the scoring that suffers. When Tyrese is sidelined, guys like Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner have to pick up the slack on playmaking—and it ain’t pretty. Turner even voiced his frustration, saying the offense gets stuck in neutral without their floor general. Forced shots, missed opportunities, and a whole lot of stagnant ball.

Defensively, Tyrese might not be a lockdown guy, but his presence amps up the team’s energy and confidence. You can’t put a stat on that kind of leadership, but you feel it every possession.

Sure, the Pacers have tried patching things up with new pieces like Bruce Brown and Obi Toppin, but losing your main guy in a Finals series? That’s a nightmare scenario. With Tyrese limping after Game 2, the question is clear: can the rest of the squad step up, or will Indiana’s offense flatline when it matters most? Because without their engine running full throttle, the Pacers risk stalling out on the biggest stage.