Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers sustains an injury during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Tyrese Haliburton will travel to New York City on Monday to begin the surgical process on his torn Achilles tendon, a league source told RG. The Indiana Pacers star suffered the injury early in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, cutting short one of the most dramatic and clutch postseason performances in recent NBA history.
Haliburton went down with 4:42 remaining in the first quarter of the Pacers’ 103-91 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Playing through a right calf strain he had managed since Game 5, he collapsed without contact on a drive and immediately grabbed at his lower right leg. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game and was later seen on crutches in the tunnel.
His father, John Haliburton, confirmed to ESPN that the injury was to the Achilles. Surgery in New York marks the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy recovery, with standard return timelines ranging from nine to 12 months.
Before the injury, Haliburton had elevated the Pacers to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, averaging 17.3 points, 8.6 assists and 5.3 rebounds across 23 playoff games. Along the way, he delivered four game-winning or game-tying shots in the final five seconds of regulation or overtime—one in each round—a feat unmatched in NBA postseason history.
The heroics began in the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks. With the Pacers trailing by seven points in the final 35 seconds of overtime in Game 5, Haliburton led a frantic comeback capped by a driving layup over Giannis Antetokounmpo with 1.3 seconds remaining to win the game and clinch the series. In Game 2 of the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers, he hit a step-back three-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to break a tie and give Indiana a 2-0 series lead. He averaged 17.4 points, 7.0 assists and 4.6 rebounds across the five-game series.
Haliburton followed with a buzzer-beating jumper in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden to force overtime. The Pacers went on to win 138-135 and eventually closed out the Knicks in six games. Haliburton averaged 21.0 points, 10.5 assists and 6.0 rebounds in the series.
In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Haliburton added another signature moment. After trailing by 15 in the fourth quarter and nine with under three minutes remaining, Indiana stormed back. With 0.3 seconds left and the Pacers down 110-109, Haliburton drilled a 21-foot jumper over Cason Wallace to give Indiana a 111-110 win on the road.
Haliburton averaged 14.0 points, 5.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds in the seven-game series against the Thunder. He scored 22 points in a Game 3 win and had nine quick points in Game 7 before exiting with the injury.
He finished the postseason shooting 6-for-7 on shots to tie or take the lead in the final 90 seconds of regulation or overtime. Including the regular season, he went 13-for-15 in those situations, good for 86.7%. His ability to close games drew comparisons to Reggie Miller, while his leadership and playmaking redefined expectations for the Pacers franchise.
Haliburton’s injury became the third Achilles tear suffered by an All-Star during the 2025 postseason, joining Damian Lillard and Jayson Tatum. All three are expected to miss significant time next season.
LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes and others posted messages of support following the injury. For Haliburton, the focus now shifts to recovery. But for Indiana, the impact of his playoff run—both statistically and emotionally—won’t soon be forgotten.
Grant Afseth
