Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle described his team’s mood as “our hearts dropped” when star guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon early in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on June 22, leading to a heartbreaking 103–91 defeat to the Thunder ([reelnews.com.ng][1], [reuters.com][2]). Carlisle praised Haliburton as the author of “one of the great individual playoff runs in NBA history” and expressed confidence in a full recovery, saying, “He will be back… I believe he’ll make a full recovery” ([reuters.com][2]).
Despite Haliburton’s early offensive burst—scoring nine points, including three 3‑pointers in five minutes—the injury stunned the Pacers, who had taken a narrow halftime lead . After the injury, Haliburton continued to lead from the sidelines, rallying teammates in the locker room and even greeting them on crutches after the loss ([reuters.com][2]).
Reflecting on Haliburton’s injury, Carlisle emphasized both the emotional blow and the physical prognosis: medical reports suggest a lengthy recovery, possibly 4–6 months if surgery is required ([newspital.com][3]). Haliburton, meanwhile, issued an emotional message post-surgery, channeling inspiration from Kobe Bryant, thanking fans, and vowing to return stronger ([talksport.com][4]). Carlisle and the franchise remain optimistic, highlighting his character and leadership even in adversity.
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