Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered a devastating injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, tearing his right Achilles tendon in a painful incident that left the entire team and fan base in shock. Haliburton, who had entered the game with a right calf strain suffered in Game 5, was attempting to drive to the hoop when he suddenly collapsed to the ground, slamming the court in agony. The broadcast cameras caught him already on crutches as he greeted his teammates as they walked off the floor in defeat Sunday night. Despite the injury, Haliburton's determination to play and compete with his teammates was evident. "I want to be on the floor, and if I have the ability to, if I can — like I said, if I can walk, I want to be out there," he said after Game 6. Indiana coach Rick Carlisle expressed his support for Haliburton and his belief that he would return to the court. "What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped. But he will be back," Carlisle said after Game 7. "He authored one of the great individual playoff runs in the history of the NBA with dramatic play after dramatic play." Haliburton, who appeared in 23 playoff games for the Pacers this season, averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists in the postseason. He led the team to several improbable comebacks, including his dramatic game-tying shot at the end of regulation in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals and his game-winning shot with 0.3 seconds left in Game 1 of the championship round. Haliburton, who is under contract with Indiana through 2029, will be missed by the team and fans as he recovers from this devastating injury. However, with his determination and talent, there is no doubt that he will return to the court stronger than ever before.
Tyrese Haliburton's devastating Achilles tear during the NBA Finals served as a shocking reminder of just how fragile even seemingly invincible athletic bodies can be in one crushing moment.
