Tyrese Haliburtons Injury: A Major Blow to the Indiana Pacers NBA Finals Hopes

The Indiana Pacers' star guard Tyrese Haliburton was forced to leave Game 7 of the NBA Finals in the first quarter due to a right leg injury, the team announced during the second quarter. Haliburton, who was averaging 17.7 points, 9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game in the playoffs, would not return to the game with what the team called a "lower right leg injury."

Haliburton's father told ABC's Lisa Salters that Haliburton suffered an Achilles injury. The injury occurred after Haliburton received a pass near the top of the key and began to dribble before collapsing to the floor as he lost control of the ball. He repeatedly slammed the court in agony before a timeout.

Indiana lost the game 103-91, posting its lowest scoring total of the playoffs with Haliburton missing the majority of the contest. In Indiana's 22 playoff games entering Sunday, Haliburton had been a major catalyst for the Pacers' postseason success, leading multiple comebacks through the four rounds.

Haliburton had been playing through the last two games of the series with a right calf strain. He was observed limping earlier in the series, then appeared to aggravate the calf in Game 5. Despite the injury, Haliburton said he would play as long as he could walk.

"I just look at it as I want to be out there to compete with my brothers," Haliburton said. "These are guys that I'm willing to go to war with, and we've had such a special year, and we have a special bond as a group, and you know, I think I'd beat myself up if I didn't give it a chance."

Haliburton's absence will be a significant blow to the Pacers' chances of winning the NBA championship. The team will need to rely on its other players to step up and fill the void left by Haliburton's injury.