Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton exited Game 7 of the NBA Finals in the first quarter after suffering an apparent non-contact injury to his right lower leg.
The Pacers confirmed in the second quarter that Haliburton had sustained a right lower leg injury and would not return to the game.
With 4:55 remaining in the first quarter, Haliburton planted his right foot while attempting to drive and collapsed to the floor in obvious pain.
He slapped the floor repeatedly and was visibly emotional as the Oklahoma City Thunder scored at the other end before play was stopped. He was helped into the tunnel by trainers, placing no weight on his right leg.
Haliburton suffered a strained right calf on a similar play in Game 5 but returned to that game and played in Indiana’s Game 6 win, despite acknowledging an increased risk of long-term injury.
Haliburton made three 3-pointers before his injury, and the Thunder led 18-16.
Calf strains have commonly been identified as precursors to ruptured Achilles tendons since Kevin Durant suffered the catastrophic injury in 2019.
