The Indiana Pacers' hopes for an NBA Finals title suffered a major blow early in Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder as their star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton, sustained a lower right leg injury. The incident occurred midway through the first quarter, sending shockwaves through Paycom Arena and leaving fans and teammates in dismay.
Haliburton, who had been playing through a strained right calf sustained earlier in the series, appeared to aggravate the injury while attempting a drive against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As he planted his leg, it seemed to give way, causing him to fall to the ground in obvious pain. He immediately punched the court in frustration, signaling the severity of the situation.
The arena fell silent as teammates quickly gathered around Haliburton, who was visibly emotional. He was helped off the court and back to the locker room, a towel draped over his head. The scene was reminiscent of Kevin Durant's Achilles injury in the 2019 NBA Finals, when he returned from a calf strain, sparking fears of a similar outcome for Haliburton.
Prior to the game, Haliburton acknowledged the risks of playing through the calf injury, stating his competitive desire to be on the court for Game 7. He had started the game strong, making three of his first four 3-point attempts, showing no signs of hesitation.
The injury not only jeopardized the Pacers' chances in the decisive game but also cast a shadow over Haliburton's potential to leave a lasting mark on NBA history. LeBron James reacted to the injury with a tweet expressing his dismay.
With Haliburton sidelined, the Pacers faced an uphill battle. Andrew Nembhard assumed primary ball-handling duties, and the team needed to find a way to compensate for the loss of their offensive engine. The Thunder, meanwhile, capitalized on the momentum shift, taking a lead at the end of the first quarter.
The severity of Haliburton's injury remains to be officially confirmed, but the initial signs point to a potentially serious Achilles issue. Should that be the case, he would join Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard as star players who have suffered the same injury. A confirmed Achilles rupture would mean a long recovery process.
