Tyrese Haliburton‘s experience of playing in the NBA Finals remains muddied, as an injury in the first quarter of Game 7 saw the Indiana Pacers guard go down screaming. With an injury aggravating his calf injury, Haliburton had to be taken off the floor with 4:55 on the clock.
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Haliburton’s injury appears to be on the same leg that effectively saw him sidelined in the early frames of Game 5 as well. Considering that the injury was labelled as a calf strain, the Pacers guard showed a lot of courage by soldiering through the injury to play in Game 6.
The calf injury had an impact on Haliburton’s performance in Game 5, resulting in contributions of four points, seven rebounds, and six assists on zero field goals made. Considering the impact it had on his output, the Pacers may have been better served by replacing the guard for the game.
Unfortunately, with the recurring injury seeing him taken out of the game yet again, the situation looks bleak for Indiana in a decisive Game 7 situation. And with the confirmation that he will not be returning for the remainder of the game, Indiana is likely to pin its hopes and aspirations on Pascal Siakam to carry this team through.
The Pacers kept things close at the end of the first quarter with a 22-25 scoreline, with the star guard notching nine points on 3-5 shooting in seven minutes of playing time.
With Haliburton going down, Indiana saw their reliable backup point guard, TJ McConnell, step in to take his place.
McConnell’s unrelenting tenacity on the defensive end may be of value in this scenario, aiding Indiana’s efforts in keeping the Oklahoma City Thunder at bay. With a contribution of two assists, a rebound, and a steal thus far, the veteran guard appears to be fulfilling his role.
Meanwhile, the weight of Indiana’s offense is now being carried by Siakam, who has recorded eight points for the game thus far. This effort has been closely supported by Bennedict Mathurin, who scored five crucial points, with a necessary three-pointer early in the second quarter.
The Pacers continue to hang close with the number-one seed in the West. With the Oklahoma City Thunder seeing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead the charge with 16 points, the team looks primed to make a stand at home.
Tyrese Haliburton Injures His Achilles Tendon
Haliburton’s departure from Game 7 may have more dire connotations for the future than expected. While his absence will undoubtedly have an impact on his team’s performance at this crucial juncture, his future also looks concerning as the latest reports suggest that his injury was to his Achilles tendon.
ESPN’s Lisa Salters reported on the matter after speaking with Haliburton’s father and said:
“Mr. Haliburton confirmed that it is an Achilles injury, and he said that Tyrese is doing as well as he can be under the circumstances. The entire family is back there with him… He seems to be in good spirits. He’s watching the game and he’s trying to root on his team from back in the locker room.”
This postseason has seen several players sidelined due to injuries, with the ACL becoming a common occurrence in particular. With the absence of a star having a dire impact on the team, the Pacers continue to hold strong, holding onto a one-point lead heading into the second half.
