Sunday was a tough one for fans of Indianapolis pro sports. Not only did Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever lose to the Las Vegas Aces, but the Indiana Pacers also failed in their bid to upset the Oklahoma City Thunder inGame 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. With the NFL still in the offseason, the Indianapolis Colts couldn’t do much to try to alleviate the sports melancholia in the Hoosier State.
Making the day even harder for Indy sports fans was the devastating Achilles injury that Tyrese Haliburton suffered in the opening quarter of the Thunder game.
It was not the outcome Indiana fans expected. They felt the Pacers could turn the tables on the Thunder even in enemy territory, as Indiana managed to push the 68-win OKC squad to a winner-take-all showdown. But the Pacers just simply couldn’t find a way to win it all, in large part because of Haliburton’s injury.
Tyrese Haliburton
Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) is assisted after an apparent injury following a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Indianapolis Colts react to Pacers’ Game 7 loss to Oklahoma City
USATSI 25120352 168400517 lowres scaled
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) talks to Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (1) on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, during pregame warm-up at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The Indianapolis Colts can certainly feel the pain as well. In an attempt to console the Pacers and Indiana’s fanbase, the Colts sent a two-emoji message after the Thunder’s 103-91 victory at Paycom Center.
💙💙 https://t.co/1JjNxV83W2
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) June 23, 2025
The good news is that the Pacers can be an inspiration for the Colts. Indiana was not a top seed entering the NBA Playoffs and not many expected them to have a deep run in the postseason, let alone push the Thunder to the absolute limit in the NBA Finals.
The Colts are also not viewed as a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the2025 NFL season, but the element of surprise is still there for Indianapolis, which went 8-9 in 2024.
Indianapolis Colts Daniel Jones
Jun 12, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) pitches a ball during training camp at the Farm Bureau Football complex. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
For More NFL and College Football News & Updates:
Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) at@Rexwell14. Also, do not forget to regularly check out the latest Gridiron Heroics content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in the world of NFL and college football in terms of transactions, analysis, game previews, free agency, recruitment, transfers, and more, justclick here!