Arena falls silent as NBA superstar Tyrese Haliburton goes down in championship finale
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has gone down injured just minutes into the NBA championship finale won by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday local time (Monday AEST).
The point guard has battled a calf injury through the back half of the Finals but was on fire early in Game 7, hitting three three-pointers in the first quarter — only for his series to come to a swift end when he went down without contact.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Arena falls silent as NBA superstar goes down in championship finale.
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Oklahoma City’s MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was among the players to check on Haliburton.
Haliburton was helped off the court with a towel draped over his head.
The Pacers quickly confirmed he was out for the remainder of the game without a formal diagnosis.
Haliburton’s father later told ESPN it was an Achilles injury.
“It’s heartbreaking,” teammate Myles Turner said after the first quarter.
“It’s unfortunate in the biggest game of the year that it (his leg) didn’t hold out for him. We’ve got his back and that’s what it’s all about, next-man-up menality.
“Keep him in your mind, keep him in your heart, go win it for him.”
Haliburton was responsible for game-winners in multiple comebacks on the Pacers’ playoff run, including in the opening game of the Finals.
The Thunder broke away in the third quarter to seal a 103-91 victory and the championship.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points with 12 assists to secure the Finals MVP award.
Haliburton, meanwhile, returned to the tunnel on crutches to greet his teammates at the end of the game.
A confirmed ruptured Achilles would make Haliburton the third star to suffer the injury in the playoffs.
Milwaukee Bucks veteran Damian Lillard went down in the first round while Boston Celtics champion Jayson Tatum suffered the blow in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Originally published on 7NEWS Sport
