With the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder locked in a winner-takes-all showdown in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, anticipation in Paycom Center was electric.
In the first quarter, Pacers’ point guard Tyrese Haliburton exploded out of the gate, drilling three 3-pointers and tallying nine points, setting the tone early.
But the tone shifted dramatically with 4:55 left in that opening frame. Haliburton, who had been managing a right calf strain sustained in Game 5, went to attack the rim and collapsed in visible agony.
The non-contact incident, captured in slow-motion replays, suggested something snapped in the back of his leg.
Soon after, team officials ruled him out for the remainder of the night and the Pacers confirmed he would not return to Game 7, describing it only as a "lower right leg injury."
Across social media, tributes and concerns poured in from players and fans alike. Among the first was former NBA All-Star Isaiah Thomas, who said, "Them calf strains are nothing to play with. The next thing if not healed right is always Achilles. Man I feel bad for bro!!”
News of Haliburton’s injury cast a shadow over what promised to be a historic finale.
The 25-year-old guard had been instrumental in Indiana’s unlikely run, averaging 17.7 points, 9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds in the postseason, and steering the franchise to its first Finals appearance since 2000.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0)
© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Haliburton’s calf strain now raises fears of an Achilles tear, an injury notorious for lengthy recoveries and uncertain returns.
If confirmed, he faces an extended rehabilitation timeline that could sideline him well into next season.