Haliburton joins grim club of Achilles tendon injuries in NBA playoffs

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has suffered a torn right Achilles tendon, the team confirmed Monday, in a devastating end to his postseason run and a likely blow to his 2025–26 campaign.

The 25-year-old point guard will undergo surgery in New York with Dr. Martin O’Malley and is expected to face a lengthy rehabilitation.

The injury occurred early in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, where Haliburton collapsed untouched while driving to the basket just over seven minutes into the first quarter. The Pacers went on to lose 91-103 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who claimed their first NBA title.



Haliburton had been playing through a calf strain during the Finals, hoping to lead the Pacers to its first championship. The situation drew comparisons to Kevin Durant’s 2019 Finals injury - when he also played through a calf issue before tearing his Achilles.

The Pacers’ star becomes the third major NBA player this postseason to suffer an Achilles tear, joining Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard in a troubling trend of high-profile injuries. All three now face uncertain timelines for their return next season.

Haliburton was a standout performer throughout the playoffs, averaging 17.7 points and a league-best 9.0 assists per game. His injury sent shockwaves through the league, with Golden State’s Draymond Green reacting on social media: "Damn man… smh too familiar."


Pacers coach Rick Carlisle expressed heartbreak after the game, saying, "What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped. But he will be back. I believe he’ll make a full recovery."