What was supposed to be a career-defining night for Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers turned into a nightmare within minutes.
Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder had just begun, the stakes couldn’t have been higher—and then came the moment that silenced the arena.
Already Battling Injury Heading Into the Game
Haliburton had been nursing a calf injury for a few games already.
In Game 6, the Pacers had managed to blow out the Thunder, which meant he was only on the court for 26 minutes—likely a strategic move to keep him as fresh as possible for the final showdown.
But heading into Game 7, no one could’ve predicted what was about to happen.
The Collapse That Shook Indiana
In the opening quarter, as Haliburton tried to maneuver past Oklahoma City’s superstar and NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he suddenly crumpled to the floor.
It was immediate. He didn’t twist, trip, or stumble—he just collapsed in obvious pain.
The 25-year-old pounded the hardwood with his hand, grimacing and yelling out in agony.
He couldn’t put any weight on his leg as the Pacers’ medical team quickly rushed to his side.
A Team Frozen in Concern
It was one of those moments that shakes even the most focused professionals.
Players, coaches, trainers—everyone from Indiana’s side—surrounded Haliburton as he lay on the floor.
This wasn’t just about basketball anymore. This was about a player clearly hurting, physically and emotionally.
He was eventually helped off the court and taken back to the locker room.
Cameras later showed him being carried down the tunnel, towel draped over his head, shielding his face from the world.
You didn’t need to see his expression to know how heartbreaking it was.
An Eerie Repeat of Game 5
Adding to the tragedy of the moment was the eerie coincidence: the injury happened almost in the same spot on the court where Haliburton had first tweaked his calf during Game 5.
It was as if the court had turned into a cruel reminder of his physical limits at the worst possible time.
What Comes Next for Haliburton?
At the time of writing, there hasn’t been an official update on the severity of the injury, but what’s certain is that it shook the Pacers and fans to their core.
Haliburton had been central to Indiana’s unexpected and inspired Finals run—and to see him go down like that, in the biggest game of his life, is nothing short of gut-wrenching.
More details will emerge soon. But for now, the basketball world can only hope the injury isn’t as serious as it looked—and that Haliburton can make his way back to doing what he does best.