Tyrese Haliburton tore his right Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, ending a heroic playoff run and casting doubt over the Pacers' immediate future. The All-Star guard is expected to miss significant time during the 2025–26 season.
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has torn his right Achilles tendon, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. The devastating injury occurred in the first quarter of Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder and casts serious doubt over Haliburton’s immediate future — and that of the Pacers.
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The 25-year-old guard, who was already playing through a right calf injury, collapsed after attempting to push off his leg for a drive. He immediately showed visible pain, pounding the floor and yelling. He had to be helped off the court, unable to put any weight on the leg.
“He was dealing with an Achilles injury,” Haliburton’s father, John Haliburton, confirmed to ESPN during the game.
At the time of the injury, Haliburton had nine points, keeping Indiana competitive early. The score was tied 16-16 when he exited. The Pacers eventually lost the series-deciding contest 103–91.
This was the same leg that suffered a calf injury in Game 5, which initially was expected to sideline Haliburton for weeks. Despite this, he returned for Game 6 and led the team with 14 points in 22 minutes, forcing a Game 7.
Unfortunately, Haliburton lasted just seven minutes in the final before being ruled out for the remainder of the game due to what was first described as a “lower-leg injury.”
His absence in the second half allowed the Thunder to take full control, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a third-quarter blowout and ultimately their first NBA title.
Haliburton had been the catalyst for Indiana’s deep postseason run, averaging 19.5 points and 10.1 assists over four seasons with the franchise. He emerged as a clutch performer in the playoffs, hitting multiple last-second shots to propel Indiana past tough opponents.
With Haliburton expected to miss a significant portion of next season, the burden will now shift to Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin to lead the team. Despite the setback, sportsbooks still give Indiana the sixth-best odds to win the 2026 NBA title — a sign of faith in the team’s young core and depth.
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