Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton exited Game 7 of the NBA Finals in the first quarter due to a right leg injury, later identified by his father as an Achilles injury. The Pacers announced during the second quarter that he would not return. Haliburton’s injury occurred after he received a pass and began to dribble, collapsing to the court in visible pain and repeatedly hitting the floor before leaving with help from teammates, unable to put weight on his leg.
Prior to his injury, Haliburton was performing well, having scored nine points in seven minutes with an impressive 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Throughout the Pacers’ 22 playoff games leading up to Game 7, he averaged 17.7 points, 9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds, proving crucial to the team’s success and leading several comebacks in the postseason. In Game 1 of the Finals, he even delivered a game-winning shot with just 0.3 seconds left.
Haliburton had been battling a right calf strain in earlier games of the series, which he aggravated in Game 5. Before Game 7, he acknowledged feeling “stiff” and “sore,” but expressed his commitment to playing. He stated his desire to compete alongside his teammates and emphasized the special bond within the team. After the Pacers secured a vital win in Game 6, he reiterated his willingness to fight through pain for his teammates, underscoring his focus on winning over personal comfort.
Sadly, the Pacers lost Game 7 103-91, marking their lowest scoring effort of the playoffs in Haliburton’s absence.
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