Tyrese Haliburton’s dream NBA Finals Recreation 7 begin rapidly became a nightmare because the Pacers star exited the winner-take-all title recreation Sunday night time within the first quarter. The Pacers in the end misplaced Recreation 7 towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, and it was confirmed Monday that Haliburton has a torn proper Achilles tendon.
The Pacers star was scheduled to endure surgical procedure later Monday, the staff stated, and can probably miss most or the entire 2025-26 season, although the staff didn’t present an official restoration timeline.
NBA followers have turn into all too acquainted in these playoffs with how a torn Achilles appears. Haliburton went down, was immediately in ache and regarded like he knew it was a critical damage. Here is the play in its entirety:
Haliburton got here out on fireplace with three 3-pointers within the first quarter and seemed to be on his option to an enormous Recreation 7. As a substitute it was lower quick seven minutes in, with Haliburton pounding his fist into the ground, yelling and crying. He might inform the severity immediately.
Haliburton suffered the suitable calf pressure in Recreation 5 on Monday, and ever since Kevin Durant tore his Achilles within the 2019 Finals after initially sustaining a calf pressure earlier within the playoffs, folks have made the connection between the 2 accidents.
Haliburton, for what it is value, addressed the dangers of enjoying by the calf pressure forward of Thursday’s Recreation 6. Here is what he advised the Indy Star:
“I simply needed to hear that it was OK,” Haliburton stated within the Pacers’ locker room in pre-game. “That is all I actually needed to hear, truthfully. I do know the dangers, I do know all the things that comes with it. I simply needed to hear it was OK.”
Haliburton was requested if he heard that there’s not danger of additional damage.
“No, I did not hear that,” Haliburton stated. “No.”
Haliburton grew to become the third All-Star to tear his Achilles in these playoffs. Bucks star Damian Lillard did so within the first spherical, and Jayson Tatum of the Celtics went down within the second spherical. Each Lillard and Tatum will miss most or the entire 2025-26 season as effectively.
Haliburton is a two-time All-Star and All-NBA choice. He was averaging 17.7 factors and 9.0 assists per recreation within the playoffs coming into Sunday’s season finale and got here up clutch a number of occasions. Haliburton hit 4 game-winning baskets in these playoffs, together with a Recreation 1 buzzer-beating jumper towards the Thunder.
“All of our hearts dropped,” Carlisle stated after the sport. “He shall be again. …I imagine he’ll make a full restoration. He authored one of many nice particular person playoff runs within the historical past of the NBA with dramatic play after dramatic play.”
