OKLAHOMA CITY – Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton says the Pacers must keep their focus firmly on the Oklahoma City Thunder and block out the “poison” of narratives popping up around Game 7 of the NBA Finals, which will take place on June 22.

A team five games under .500 through 25 games, with its best player struggling through the season, typically doesn’t make an NBA Finals.

Tyrese Haliburton would not be playing on Thursday if this were a regular season game. He probably would be sidelined for a week or two if this was December or January. But this is June. It's the NBA Finals.