Dagger in the Pacers' heart... Haliburton exits Game 7 with Achilles injury

The Oklahoma City Thunder have officially been crowned NBA Champions, closing out a thrilling series against the Indiana Pacers with a 103-91 victory in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. However, the Thunder's triumph was accompanied by a pall of concern for the Pacers' breakout star, Tyrese Haliburton, whose remarkable postseason run came to a devastating end with a suspected Achilles injury in the first quarter.

Haliburton's injury was a cruel twist of fate in what had been one of the most captivating playoff performances in recent memory. Playing through a strained right calf, he crumpled to the floor without contact just 4:55 into the opening quarter. The severity of the situation was immediately apparent as the Pacers' star, who had already contributed nine points on 3-of-4 three-point shooting, began slapping the court in frustration. Teammates quickly surrounded him, their faces etched with worry. "All of our hearts dropped," a visibly shaken Pacers coach Rick Carlisle later admitted.

Helped off the court without putting any weight on his leg, and with his face wrapped in towels, Haliburton's Finals dream was over. His father, John Haliburton, confirmed to ESPN's Lisa Salters during the broadcast that it was an Achilles injury. This diagnosis casts a long shadow over Haliburton's immediate future, with a torn Achilles potentially sidelining him for a significant portion, if not all, of the 2025-26 NBA season.

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Despite his excruciating pain and the immense disappointment, Haliburton remained a vocal presence for his team. From the locker room, surrounded by family, he could be heard cheering on his teammates, even as Indiana clung to a slim 48-47 lead at halftime. "That's just who Ty is," praised Pacers guard T.J. McConnell. "To go down like that, be selfless and just continuing to cheer for us. Even though he can't play, I think that just speaks volumes to who Tyrese Haliburton is, one of the greatest human beings I've come in contact with."

Haliburton's determination to play through injuries had been a consistent theme throughout the Finals. Despite suffering a calf strain in Game 5, he insisted, "If I can walk, I want to play." Even the day before Game 7, he acknowledged his leg was "still stiff, still sore" but remained committed to being on the court for the decisive game.

His co-star, Pascal Siakam, expressed profound pride and sorrow for Haliburton. "I'm proud of that kid," Siakam said. "He went through so much during the year. A lot of criticism. It's a lot for a young kid to go through, and he had a lot of stress. And he just kept fighting. He kept fighting every single day." Siakam lauded Haliburton's "incredible things" throughout the playoff run, acknowledging the heartbreak of not being able to finish the job for him. "He's one of the big reasons I'm here, and he made it kind of super fun for me to be here," Siakam added, highlighting Haliburton's character and leadership.

Defied all expectations

Haliburton, at just 25, had truly emerged as the breakout star of this postseason, leading the Pacers on an improbable run to the Finals that defied all expectations. His knack for clutch moments was unprecedented, as he hit a tying or winning shot in the final seconds of all four playoff rounds—a feat no other player had achieved in a single postseason. Entering Game 7, he was averaging 17.7 points and a league-leading 9.0 assists, with his 197 assists setting a new franchise record for a single playoff run.

Coach Carlisle encapsulated Haliburton's impact: "He authored one of the great individual playoff runs in the history of the NBA with dramatic play after dramatic play. It was something that no one's ever seen and did it as one of 17. You know, that's the beautiful thing about him: As great a player as he is, it's always a team thing."

While the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate their hard-earned championship, the Pacers are left to grapple with the devastating injury to their young cornerstone. The focus now shifts to Haliburton's recovery and the long road ahead, as the basketball world hopes for a swift return for one of the game's most exciting talents.