Oklahoma City (AFP) – Indiana’s star Tyrese Haliburton limped out of game seven of the NBA Finals in the first quarter in a devastating blow to the Pacers’ hopes of toppling the Oklahoma City Thunder to claim the title. Haliburton was already nursing a right calf strain and was a near game-time decision for game six — when the Pacers routed the Thunder in Indianapolis to force the decisive game seven.
It was tied at 16-16 with five minutes left in the first period when Haliburton caught a pass from Obi Toppin and appeared to slip as he tried to drive past Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Haliburton sprawled forward, beating the court with one hand in apparent pain. His teammates quickly surrounded him before he was helped from the floor and departed for the locker room — hopping on one leg and supported by Pacers staff.
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The Pacers later confirmed Haliburton would play no further part in the game after suffering a “right lower leg injury,” ESPN reported. Haliburton had made three three-pointers on the way to nine points before the injury. Without their talisman, the Pacers — who had led by as many as dug in to keep it close, the Thunder leading 25-22 at the end of the first quarter.
“It’s a heartbreak, man,” Myles Turner told broadcaster NBC as the second quarter got underway. “It’s unfortunate, you know, biggest game of the year that injury didn’t, like, hold up. But, you know, we’ve got his back and that’s what it’s all about.”
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