Shock at Paycom Center: Tyrese Haliburton Injured in Game 7
Oklahoma City – A sepulchral silence invaded the Paycom Center this Sunday, when Tyrese Haliburton, the key figure of the Indiana Pacers, suffered an injury during the first quarter of the seventh game of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Haliburton, who was already dealing with a right calf strain since Game 5, attempted a drive to the basket when his right leg appeared to give way. Immediately, he fell to the floor, visibly affected, as the Indiana bench and medical staff rushed to assist him. The guard was removed from the game unable to put weight on his leg and with his face covered.His father, John Haliburton, confirmed that the injury could be in the Achilles tendon, suggesting a possible rupture. The image of the players and coaches surrounding him on the court reflected the emotional impact the incident had on the team. With 4:55 remaining in the first quarter, the Pacers officially announced that Haliburton would not return to the game due to a right lower leg injury. Until that moment, he had ignited the team with three three-pointers and seemed ready to lead Indiana in the most crucial game of the season.Haliburton had done everything possible to be on the court, undergoing constant treatment to be able to compete in games 6 and 7. “I am a competitor,” he had declared days before. “I am going to do everything in my power to play.” The severity of the injury could jeopardize his participation in the 2025-2026 season, a hard blow for the Pacers and for the NBA, which has seen how injuries have affected several of its stars in these playoffs.“It’s heartbreaking, man,” Myles Turner stated during a halftime interview. “It’s unfortunate… but we stand by it.”
Myles Turner
