In a devastating blow for the Indiana Pacers — and possibly for Team USA’s future — Tyrese Haliburton exited Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night with what may be a serious Achilles injury, according to his father.

The injury happened with 4:55 left in the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Haliburton, already playing through a strained right calf, collapsed to the court while driving toward the basket. His right leg appeared to give out underneath him. Replays showed what looked like something popping in the back of his leg — a sight no athlete or fan ever wants to see.

“It’s a heartbreak, man,” said Pacers center Myles Turner during an in-game interview. “It’s unfortunate… but we’ve got his back.”

Father: “It’s the Achilles”

On the ABC broadcast, John Haliburton, Tyrese’s father, told sideline reporter Lisa Salters that the injury is to the Achilles tendon — though an MRI will still be needed to confirm the diagnosis. Haliburton was immediately ruled out for the rest of the game with what the Pacers described as a “lower right leg injury.”

Surrounded by teammates, coaches, and medical staff, the 24-year-old was helped off the floor without putting any weight on his leg. He was later seen in the locker room, his face covered in towels, watching the remainder of the game with his family.

“He’s doing as well as he can be under the circumstances,” Salters relayed on air.

Haliburton Was Battling Injury All Series

The injury comes after a week-long battle with leg issues. Haliburton first strained his right calf earlier in the Finals, with the issue flaring up again in Game 5. He underwent near round-the-clock treatments in hopes of staying on the floor — including hyperbaric chamber therapy, acupuncture, electronic stimulation, massage, special tape, and a wrap.

Despite the pain, Haliburton suited up and played a solid Game 6. In Game 7, he hit three deep three-pointers early, giving Indiana momentum — before the injury cut his night, and possibly his postseason, short.

“I want to play. I’m going to do everything in my power to play. That’s just what it is,” he said before Game 6. “But I also have to be smart. Have to understand the risks.”

A Brutal Playoffs for Injuries

Haliburton’s potential Achilles tear is the latest in a string of major injuries that have defined this year’s playoffs:

• Jayson Tatum of the Celtics suffered a torn Achilles earlier in the Finals.
• Damian Lillard tore his Achilles in Milwaukee’s first-round loss to Indiana.
• Stephen Curry missed the Warriors’ second-round exit due to a hamstring injury.
• LeBron James, had the Lakers advanced past the first round, was unlikely to play due to a knee sprain.

Even LeBron couldn’t hide his reaction to Haliburton’s injury, posting a one-word expletive on social media — a visceral response shared by fans and players league-wide.

What’s Next?

If Haliburton’s Achilles is indeed torn, he’ll be facing months of recovery and possibly miss the 2025–26 NBA season, just like Lillard and Tatum. It’s a crushing turn for a player who has quickly become a franchise cornerstone and rising international star — and who played a key role in Team USA’s gold medal run at the Paris Olympics last summer.

At a Glance: Tyrese Haliburton Injury

• Injury: Suspected right Achilles tendon tear (pending MRI)
• When: Game 7 of NBA Finals vs. OKC, 1st Quarter (4:55 mark)
• Status: Ruled out for remainder of game
• Background: Played through right calf strain; extensive treatment throughout series
• Possible Impact: Could miss part or all of 2025–26 NBA season

Source: AP News – Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton suffers right leg injury in NBA Finals. His father says it’s an Achilles

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are now just one win from making franchise history.

Behind a career playoff-high 40 points from Jalen Williams and another stellar performance from MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder held off a late surge from the Indiana Pacers to win 120–109 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night. The victory puts Oklahoma City up 3–2 in the best-of-seven series — just one win away from their first NBA championship since 1979, when the franchise was still the Seattle Supersonics.

“This was just like Game 1 all over again,” Williams said after the game. “Learning through these Finals — that’s what makes a team great.”

Williams, SGA Shine Again

Williams shot 14-of-25 from the field, adding six rebounds and four assists. He hit multiple clutch shots down the stretch to fend off Indiana’s fourth-quarter push. Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points and 10 assists, marking the 10th time this postseason the Thunder duo has combined for over 70 points in a game.

Rookies Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins chipped in with timely buckets off the bench, helping Oklahoma City regain control after their lead briefly shrank to just two points.

Thunder Weather Pacers’ Gritty Comeback

The Thunder looked dominant early, building an 18-point lead late in the second quarter and taking a 59–45 lead into halftime. But Indiana, known for comebacks all postseason long, wouldn’t go quietly.

Backup guard TJ McConnell ignited the Pacers in the third quarter, scoring 13 of his 18 points in a span of just seven minutes. Pascal Siakam (28 points on 9-of-15 shooting) drilled a three-pointer early in the fourth to make it a 95–93 game.

But Oklahoma City responded like a team ready for a title. Gilgeous-Alexander attacked the rim, drawing fouls and sinking key free throws, while Williams hit a three and a mid-range jumper to stretch the lead. The Thunder then outscored Indiana 25–14 over a seven-minute stretch to seal the win.

Defense and Efficiency Win the Day

The Thunder shot 43% from three (14 made threes) and committed just 11 turnovers. Their defense forced 23 Pacers turnovers, turning them into 32 points, and held Indiana to just 11-of-30 shooting from beyond the arc.

OKC’s fast-break offense was sharp, outpacing Indiana 17–13 in transition points. And the defensive trio of Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, and Isaiah Hartenstein made life difficult for Indiana all night — especially for their star guard.

Haliburton Hobbled

Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton appeared to aggravate a lingering lower leg injury early in the game. Though he returned with his calf heavily wrapped, he was clearly limited — finishing with just four points (all from the line) and missing all six of his field goal attempts. It marked the first time in his playoff career that he was held scoreless in a half.

Still, Haliburton remained on the floor for 34 minutes, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing six assists.

“It’s the Finals,” he said. “I’ve worked my whole life to be here. If I can walk, I want to play.”

Historic Stakes for Game 6

Indiana now faces its first series deficit of the postseason after previously dispatching Milwaukee, Cleveland, and New York without ever trailing.

The Thunder, meanwhile, are eyeing a moment 46 years in the making. Their lone title came in 1979, when the franchise was based in Seattle. Since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008, they’ve come close — but never closed the deal.

Historically, teams that win Game 5 in a tied NBA Finals go on to win the title 74% of the time. And teams with a 3–2 lead in the Finals are 40–9 all-time.

What’s Next?

Game 6 tips off Thursday, June 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET in Indianapolis. If needed, Game 7 will be held Sunday, June 22 in Oklahoma City at 8 p.m. ET.

Finals Schedule (All times ET)

• Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110 – Thu, June 5
• Game 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107 – Sun, June 8
• Game 3: Pacers 116, Thunder 107 – Wed, June 11
• Game 4: Thunder 111, Pacers 104 – Fri, June 13
• Game 5: Thunder 120, Pacers 109 – Mon, June 16
• Game 6: Thunder at Pacers – Thu, June 19, 8:30 p.m.
• Game 7: Pacers at Thunder – Sun, June 22, 8:00 p.m. (if necessary)

How to Watch

US: All games air on ABC. You can also stream on ABC.com or the ABC app (with a TV provider login), and services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and Sling TV (via ESPN3).

UK: Tune in on TNT Sports and Discovery+, or stream live on NBA League Pass with no blackout restrictions.

Australia: Watch live on ESPN Australia, or stream via Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, and NBA League Pass.

Source: Yahoo Sports – Thunder move one win from franchise’s first NBA title in 46 years after holding off Pacers

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By AP — June 12, 2025

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers have made a habit of bouncing back after losses. And on Wednesday night, in front of a roaring home crowd and a star-studded audience, they did it again — this time on the biggest stage.

Behind a huge fourth-quarter rally, the Pacers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 116–107 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals to take a 2–1 lead in the series.

“This is the kind of team that we are,” said head coach Rick Carlisle. “It’s not always going to be the same guys carrying us — we need everyone ready.”

And everyone was ready.

Bench Comes Up Big

Indiana’s bench was the difference-maker, outscoring Oklahoma City’s reserves 49–18 — a staggering margin in a Finals matchup.

Bennedict Mathurin led the way with 27 points off the bench, while TJ McConnell delivered a stat line for the record books: 10 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals — a first for any reserve in NBA Finals history.

“Our bench was amazing,” said Tyrese Haliburton, who nearly posted a triple-double with 22 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds. “We just had guys make plays after plays.”

Pascal Siakam added 21 points for Indiana, which improved to 10–0 in games following a loss since mid-March — a streak that now includes this crucial Finals victory after dropping Game 2 in Oklahoma City.

Pacers Close Strong, Thunder Fade Late

The Thunder held a 5-point lead heading into the fourth quarter — a position they’ve dominated all season, going 61–2 in such scenarios during the regular season. But Indiana flipped the script.

Fueled by defensive intensity and timely shot-making, the Pacers outscored Oklahoma City 32–18 in the final 12 minutes. The Thunder shot just 35% in the fourth and couldn’t keep pace with Indiana’s energy.

“We had a lot of good stretches,” admitted Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “But they had more good stretches than we did.”

Jalen Williams led the Thunder with 26 points, followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 24 and Chet Holmgren with 20. Despite their efforts, the team faltered when it mattered most.

“There’s a lot of areas we can clean up,” Holmgren said. “Everybody who stepped out there can be better.”

Home-Court History and Celeb Power

Wednesday marked Indiana’s first NBA Finals home game in 25 years — and the city showed up. Legends like Reggie Miller and Oscar Robertson were in attendance, along with WNBA phenom Caitlin Clark, adding to the electric atmosphere at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

And the stakes couldn’t be clearer.

Historically, the winner of Game 3 in a tied Finals series has gone on to win the title 80.5% of the time (33 out of 41 times). If that trend holds, the Pacers are now in the driver’s seat.

“It was back-and-forth all night,” Haliburton said. And he’s not wrong — the game featured 15 ties, more than the entire 2024 Finals between Boston and Dallas.

What’s Next

Game 4 tips off Friday night, again in Indiana. With momentum on their side and a city behind them, the Pacers have a golden opportunity to push the Thunder to the brink.

Source: AP News – Game 3: Pacers rally in the 4th, beat Thunder 116-107 to take 2-1 lead in NBA Finals

The post Pacers Rally Late to Take 2–1 Lead Over Thunder in NBA Finals appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

The Indiana Pacers are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time in decades, riding high after knocking out the New York Knicks in a thrilling six-game Eastern Conference Finals. And while the team effort has been undeniable, one player stood out — Pascal Siakam.

Siakam, who joined the Pacers mid-season, was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP after a standout performance. Over six games, he averaged 24.8 points on an efficient 52.4% shooting, playing a key role in dismantling New York’s defense.

But in a moment that revealed both humility and heart, Siakam downplayed his own spotlight during his MVP acceptance speech.

“I know I’m not the guy everyone’s going to talk about, and I really don’t care,” Siakam said. “I’m just a kid from Cameroon who came to the U.S. at 18 and gave everything to this game. I just work every day. I don’t cheat the work.”

It was an emotional and refreshingly candid moment from the three-time All-Star — one that clearly resonated with fans and teammates alike.

Since arriving in Indiana, Siakam has brought more than just points and rebounds. He’s brought leadership, a winning mentality, and a calm presence to a team that’s grown closer with each game.

“It’s been such an amazing experience for me so far,” Siakam shared. “From the first day I landed here, the love has been amazing.”

Now, with the Pacers preparing to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, Siakam’s impact will be needed more than ever. Game 1 tips off Thursday, June 5, at 8:30 p.m. ET.

This Finals appearance marks a major turnaround for Indiana — a team that’s come together at just the right time. And whether or not Siakam considers himself “the guy,” he’s exactly the kind of player every championship team needs.

More Pacers Headlines:

• Surprising East Rival Reportedly Expected to Pursue Pacers’ Myles Turner
• Pacers Star Named ‘Face of NBA’ by Unexpected Source
• Gilbert Arenas Takes Major Shot at Pacers Star Amid Playoffs

Source: SI – Pacers’ Pascal Siakam Admits ‘I’m Not The Guy’ During MVP Speech

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