Indiana Pacers all-star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, playing with a right calf strain in a deciding Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, appeared to significantly aggravate the injury when he fell on a drive toward the basket with 5:02 remaining in the first quarter. Play was stopped seven seconds later.
Haliburton’s father, John, later told ESPN his son had suffered an Achilles injury.
The Pacers said Haliburton, would not return to the game, calling it a “right lower leg injury.”
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Haliburton was visibly emotional after the fall. He originally suffered the injury early in Game 5 when he did not make a field goal in 34 minutes. His Game 6 status was in question, but with three days off, he was able to play and tally 14 points in a blowout victory to set up the Game 7 matchup, June 22 in Oklahoma City.
The Oshkosh North High School graduate had made 3 of 4 3-pointers before the injury and led the Pacers in scoring at the end of the first 12 minutes.
Despite Haliburton’s absence in the second quarter, the Pacers led the favored Thunder, 48-47. at halftime.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tyrese Haliburton suffers Achilles injury in Game 7 of NBA Finals