Tyrese Haliburton Suffers Achilles Tear During Game 7 of NBA Finals

Tyrese Haliburton’s inspiring postseason run ended in heartbreak at the 4:55 mark of the first quarter of Game 7 of the NBA Finals vs the Oklahoma City Thunder. By video analysis, the Pacers star suffered a torn Achilles tendon as he pushed off his right calf receiving a pass.

The injury occurred during an eccentric load during a change of direction upon receiving a pass. A visual snap of the tendon can be seen, as well as the recoil of the calf muscle. It will require surgery, and likely to miss all of next season recovering from this late-stage injury in the season.

The decision to play through that strain, while celebrated for its toughness, came with real risk. Calf injuries typically require weeks to heal, not days, and pushing through them can place excess stress on the Achilles tendon. Medical experts have long cautioned that returning too soon from a calf strain can increase the risk of a rupture, especially in explosive athletes like Haliburton.

This injury is similar to the one that occurred to Kevin Durant in 2019. What began as Achilles tendonitis for Haliburton, evolved into a calf strain then ultimately, a rupture in the NBA Finals. However, like Durant, we expect a full recovery for Haliburton.

When will Tyrese Haliburton return to play?

The 25-year-old had been the heart of Indiana’s Finals run, leading the league in postseason assists and proving himself as a franchise cornerstone. Now, instead of celebrating a potential championship, Haliburton faces a long rehab that could sideline him for 9–12 months.

It's a devastating outcome for a player at the peak of his career — and a harsh reminder of the fine line between heroism and risk when it comes to playing through injury.

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