Tyrese Haliburton
Torn Achilles Confirmed
Published
The bad news has been confirmed — Tyrese Haliburton did, in fact, tear his right Achilles tendon during Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday.
The official diagnosis came on Monday … just a day after the Indiana Pacers star suffered the leg injury during the first quarter of the season finale against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Haliburton — averaging 17.2 points in the playoffs — was carried off the court … and was seen using crutches and a wheelchair following the championship loss.
Once he undergoes surgery, Haliburton has a long road of recovery ahead — and it could take up to a year to return.
“What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said on Sunday.
“But he will be back … he’ll be back in time, and I believe he’ll make a full recovery.”
Haliburton is one of three players who suffered an Achilles injury in this year’s playoffs. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals … and Damian Lillard sustained the same injury in Round 1 for the Milwaukee Bucks.