The Indiana Pacers lost Game 7 of the NBA Finals, falling short against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who can boast their first championship.
Early in the game, superstar point guard Tyrese Haliburton went down with a non-contact Achilles injury and was quickly ruled out for the game. The ESPN broadcast constantly showed videos of what appeared to be his tendon tearing, and after the game, he was seen on crutches greeting his heartbroken teammates in the tunnel.
Haliburton's playoff run was defined by clutch moments, game-winning shots, and viral celebrations, and watching him lie on the court in agony certainly left an impression on his team, who tried to rally but ultimately fell short.
"What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped, but he will be back," said head coach Rick Carlisle after the game, while holding back tears.
"I don't have any medical information about what may or may not have happened, but he'll be back in time. I believe he'll make a full recovery. He authored one of the great individual playoff runs in the history of the NBA. With dramatic play after dramatic play, it was just something that no one's ever seen."
Carlisle won his lone title as a coach with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, upsetting the mighty Miami Heat and LeBron James. A win over the Thunder would have carried the same weight, and taking them to seven games was an accomplishment.
Currently, there is no timeline for Haliburton's recovery, although it is expected that he will miss significant time depending on the severity of his injury.
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