Haliburton had scored nine points before being forced out of Sunday's game Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton could miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season after having surgery on a torn right Achilles tendon. The 25-year-old fell to the court without any contact as he attempted to drive to the basket seven minutes into the first quarter of the decisive game seven of the NBA Championship play-off finals at the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was in obvious distress as he was helped from the court and missed the rest of the game,which his side lost 103-91to end their hopes of a first NBA title. The Pacers confirmed he would have surgery on Monday on the injury, which has a likely recovery time of eight to 10 months. The two-time All Star is the third high-profile player to suffer a ruptured Achilles tendon in this season's play-offs, following Boston's Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee's Damian Lillard. The injury is similar to one that kept Kevin Durant out for a full season when he was hurt in the 2019 NBA Finals while playing for the Golden State Warriors. Haliburton had played in Sunday's decider despite suffering a calf strain in game five of the finals. It followed an amazing run where he hit a tying or winning shot in the final seconds in all four rounds of the play-offs. "I'd do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers," he posted on X after the surgery. "For the chance to do something special. "Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I've worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends?" Pacers coach Rick Carlisle paid tribute to Haliburton after Sunday's game. "What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped," he said. "But he will be back in time, and I believe he'll make a full recovery."
Pacers' Haliburton could miss all of 2025-26 season
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"Tyrese Haliburton to Undergo Surgery, Likely Missing Entire 2025-26 NBA Season"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Tyrese Haliburton, the star player for the Indiana Pacers, faces a potentially devastating setback as he is expected to miss the entirety of the 2025-26 NBA season following surgery for a torn right Achilles tendon. The injury occurred during the first quarter of a crucial game seven in the NBA Championship play-off finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where Haliburton collapsed to the floor without any contact while attempting to drive to the basket. Despite scoring nine points prior to his injury, he was visibly in distress and had to be assisted off the court. The Pacers ultimately lost the game 103-91, which ended their hopes of securing their first NBA title. The team confirmed that Haliburton would undergo surgery, with a recovery timeline estimated to be between eight to ten months. This injury marks a significant blow to the Pacers, as Haliburton has been a key player throughout the playoffs, known for his clutch performances, including hitting game-winning shots in previous rounds.
The severity of Haliburton's injury is underscored by its similarity to those suffered by other high-profile players in the league, such as Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard, both of whom also experienced ruptured Achilles tendons during the playoffs. This type of injury has historically led to long recovery periods, as seen with Kevin Durant, who missed an entire season following a similar injury in the 2019 NBA Finals. Haliburton, reflecting on the emotional toll of the injury, expressed his deep frustration and disappointment in a post-surgery message, emphasizing his commitment to the team and the city. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle also voiced his support for Haliburton, stating that the team is hopeful for his full recovery and believes he will return stronger. Haliburton's absence next season will be felt significantly by the Pacers as they look to rebuild and strategize for future success without one of their standout players.
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