Arena falls silent as NBA superstar Tyrese Haliburton goes down in championship finale
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has gone down injured just minutes into the NBA championship finale on Sunday local time (Monday AEST).
The point guard has battled a calf injury through the back half of the Finals but was on fire early in Game 7, hitting three three-pointers in the first quarter — only for his series to come to a swift end when he went down without contact.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Arena falls silent as NBA superstar goes down in championship finale.
Haliburton, immediately in tears, punched the floor in frustration while his high-profile father was also emotional in the stands.
Oklahoma City Thunder's MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was among the players to check on Haliburton.
Haliburton was helped off the court with a towel draped over his head.
The Pacers quickly confirmed he was out for the remainder of the game without a formal diagnosis.
Haliburton's father later told ESPN it was an Achilles injury.
'It's heartbreaking,' teammate Myles Turner said after the first quarter.
'It's unfortunate in the biggest game of the year that it (his leg) didn't hold out for him. We've got his back and that's what it's all about, next-man-up menality.
'Keep him in your mind, keep him in your heart, go win it for him.'
Haliburton was responsible for game-winners in multiple comebacks on the Pacers' playoff run, including in the opening game of the Finals.
Indiana will lean on Pascal Siakam, who won the 2019 title with the Toronto Raptors, for the rest of the game while backup TJ McConnell will also take on a larger role.
Meanwhile, confirmed ruptured Achilles would make Haliburton the third star to suffer the injury in the playoffs.
Milwaukee Bucks veteran Damian Lillard went down in the first round while Boston Celtics champion Jayson Tatum suffered the blow in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
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The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Thunder cap off best season with NBA crown
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander walked off the court for the final time this season, collapsed into the arms of coach Mark Daigneault and finally smiled. It was over. The climb is complete. The rebuild is done. The Oklahoma City Thunder are champions. The best team all season were the best team at the end, bringing the NBA title to Oklahoma City for the first time. Gilgeous-Alexander finished off his MVP season with 29 points and 12 assists, and OKC beat the Indiana Pacers — who lost Tyrese Haliburton to a serious leg injury in the opening minutes — 103-91 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night. "It doesn't feel real," said Gilgeous-Alexander, the Finals MVP. "So many hours. So many moments. So many emotions. So many nights of disbelief. So many nights of belief. It's crazy to know that we're all here, but this group worked for it. This group put in the hours and we deserve this." Jalen Williams scored 20 points and Chet Holmgren had 18 for the Thunder, who finished off a season for the ages. Oklahoma City won 84 games between the regular season and the playoffs, tying the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls for third most in any season. Only Golden State (88 in 2016-17) and the Bulls (87 in 2015-16) won more. It's the second championship for the franchise. The Seattle SuperSonics won the NBA title in 1979; the team was moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. There's nothing in the rafters in Oklahoma City to commemorate that title. In October, a championship banner is finally coming. A Thunder banner. "They behave like champions. They compete like champions," Daigneault said. "They root for each other's success, which is rare in professional sports. I've said it many times and now I'm going to say it one more time. They are an uncommon team and now they're champions." The Pacers led 48-47 at the half even after losing Haliburton to what his father said was an achilles tendon injury about seven minutes into the game. But they were outscored 34-20 in the third quarter as the Thunder built a 13-point lead and began to run away. "Deflated, but proud of everything we've accomplished," Pacers guard TJ McConnell said. Bennedict Mathurin had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana, who are still is waiting for their first NBA title. The Pacers — who were 10-15 after 25 games and were bidding to be the first team in NBA history to turn that bad of a start into a championship — had leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the series, but they simply didn't have enough in the end. Home teams improved to 16-4 in NBA Finals Game 7s and the Thunder became the seventh champion in the last seven seasons, a run of parity like none other in NBA history. "It really hurts on the one hand," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "On the other hand, this team has given all of Pacer Nation something to be very proud of." Shai Gilgeous-Alexander walked off the court for the final time this season, collapsed into the arms of coach Mark Daigneault and finally smiled. It was over. The climb is complete. The rebuild is done. The Oklahoma City Thunder are champions. The best team all season were the best team at the end, bringing the NBA title to Oklahoma City for the first time. Gilgeous-Alexander finished off his MVP season with 29 points and 12 assists, and OKC beat the Indiana Pacers — who lost Tyrese Haliburton to a serious leg injury in the opening minutes — 103-91 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night. "It doesn't feel real," said Gilgeous-Alexander, the Finals MVP. "So many hours. So many moments. So many emotions. So many nights of disbelief. So many nights of belief. It's crazy to know that we're all here, but this group worked for it. This group put in the hours and we deserve this." Jalen Williams scored 20 points and Chet Holmgren had 18 for the Thunder, who finished off a season for the ages. Oklahoma City won 84 games between the regular season and the playoffs, tying the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls for third most in any season. Only Golden State (88 in 2016-17) and the Bulls (87 in 2015-16) won more. It's the second championship for the franchise. The Seattle SuperSonics won the NBA title in 1979; the team was moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. There's nothing in the rafters in Oklahoma City to commemorate that title. In October, a championship banner is finally coming. A Thunder banner. "They behave like champions. They compete like champions," Daigneault said. "They root for each other's success, which is rare in professional sports. I've said it many times and now I'm going to say it one more time. They are an uncommon team and now they're champions." The Pacers led 48-47 at the half even after losing Haliburton to what his father said was an achilles tendon injury about seven minutes into the game. But they were outscored 34-20 in the third quarter as the Thunder built a 13-point lead and began to run away. "Deflated, but proud of everything we've accomplished," Pacers guard TJ McConnell said. Bennedict Mathurin had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana, who are still is waiting for their first NBA title. The Pacers — who were 10-15 after 25 games and were bidding to be the first team in NBA history to turn that bad of a start into a championship — had leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the series, but they simply didn't have enough in the end. Home teams improved to 16-4 in NBA Finals Game 7s and the Thunder became the seventh champion in the last seven seasons, a run of parity like none other in NBA history. "It really hurts on the one hand," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "On the other hand, this team has given all of Pacer Nation something to be very proud of." Shai Gilgeous-Alexander walked off the court for the final time this season, collapsed into the arms of coach Mark Daigneault and finally smiled. It was over. The climb is complete. The rebuild is done. The Oklahoma City Thunder are champions. The best team all season were the best team at the end, bringing the NBA title to Oklahoma City for the first time. Gilgeous-Alexander finished off his MVP season with 29 points and 12 assists, and OKC beat the Indiana Pacers — who lost Tyrese Haliburton to a serious leg injury in the opening minutes — 103-91 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night. "It doesn't feel real," said Gilgeous-Alexander, the Finals MVP. "So many hours. So many moments. So many emotions. So many nights of disbelief. So many nights of belief. It's crazy to know that we're all here, but this group worked for it. This group put in the hours and we deserve this." Jalen Williams scored 20 points and Chet Holmgren had 18 for the Thunder, who finished off a season for the ages. Oklahoma City won 84 games between the regular season and the playoffs, tying the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls for third most in any season. Only Golden State (88 in 2016-17) and the Bulls (87 in 2015-16) won more. It's the second championship for the franchise. The Seattle SuperSonics won the NBA title in 1979; the team was moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. There's nothing in the rafters in Oklahoma City to commemorate that title. In October, a championship banner is finally coming. A Thunder banner. "They behave like champions. They compete like champions," Daigneault said. "They root for each other's success, which is rare in professional sports. I've said it many times and now I'm going to say it one more time. They are an uncommon team and now they're champions." The Pacers led 48-47 at the half even after losing Haliburton to what his father said was an achilles tendon injury about seven minutes into the game. But they were outscored 34-20 in the third quarter as the Thunder built a 13-point lead and began to run away. "Deflated, but proud of everything we've accomplished," Pacers guard TJ McConnell said. Bennedict Mathurin had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana, who are still is waiting for their first NBA title. The Pacers — who were 10-15 after 25 games and were bidding to be the first team in NBA history to turn that bad of a start into a championship — had leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the series, but they simply didn't have enough in the end. Home teams improved to 16-4 in NBA Finals Game 7s and the Thunder became the seventh champion in the last seven seasons, a run of parity like none other in NBA history. "It really hurts on the one hand," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "On the other hand, this team has given all of Pacer Nation something to be very proud of." Shai Gilgeous-Alexander walked off the court for the final time this season, collapsed into the arms of coach Mark Daigneault and finally smiled. It was over. The climb is complete. The rebuild is done. The Oklahoma City Thunder are champions. The best team all season were the best team at the end, bringing the NBA title to Oklahoma City for the first time. Gilgeous-Alexander finished off his MVP season with 29 points and 12 assists, and OKC beat the Indiana Pacers — who lost Tyrese Haliburton to a serious leg injury in the opening minutes — 103-91 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night. "It doesn't feel real," said Gilgeous-Alexander, the Finals MVP. "So many hours. So many moments. So many emotions. So many nights of disbelief. So many nights of belief. It's crazy to know that we're all here, but this group worked for it. This group put in the hours and we deserve this." Jalen Williams scored 20 points and Chet Holmgren had 18 for the Thunder, who finished off a season for the ages. Oklahoma City won 84 games between the regular season and the playoffs, tying the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls for third most in any season. Only Golden State (88 in 2016-17) and the Bulls (87 in 2015-16) won more. It's the second championship for the franchise. The Seattle SuperSonics won the NBA title in 1979; the team was moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. There's nothing in the rafters in Oklahoma City to commemorate that title. In October, a championship banner is finally coming. A Thunder banner. "They behave like champions. They compete like champions," Daigneault said. "They root for each other's success, which is rare in professional sports. I've said it many times and now I'm going to say it one more time. They are an uncommon team and now they're champions." The Pacers led 48-47 at the half even after losing Haliburton to what his father said was an achilles tendon injury about seven minutes into the game. But they were outscored 34-20 in the third quarter as the Thunder built a 13-point lead and began to run away. "Deflated, but proud of everything we've accomplished," Pacers guard TJ McConnell said. Bennedict Mathurin had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana, who are still is waiting for their first NBA title. The Pacers — who were 10-15 after 25 games and were bidding to be the first team in NBA history to turn that bad of a start into a championship — had leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the series, but they simply didn't have enough in the end. Home teams improved to 16-4 in NBA Finals Game 7s and the Thunder became the seventh champion in the last seven seasons, a run of parity like none other in NBA history. "It really hurts on the one hand," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "On the other hand, this team has given all of Pacer Nation something to be very proud of."
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Gilgeous-Alexander enters one of NBA's most elite clubs
He's the most valuable player. The scoring champion. And now, an NBA champion along with NBA Finals MVP. All in one season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has entered one of the game's most elite clubs. The 26-year-old Canadian is atop the basketball world now in almost every way imaginable after he led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA title, beating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 to win the finals in a seven-game thriller. He becomes the fourth player in NBA history to win MVP, Finals MVP, a scoring title and play for a champion in the same season. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it once, Michael Jordan then did it four times, and Shaquille O'Neal was the last entrant into that fraternity - until now. "It's hard to believe that I'm part of that group. It's hard to even fathom that I'm that type of basketball player sometimes," Gilgeous-Alexander said" ... I'm just glad and happy that my dreams have been able to come true." The title caps a season where the Thunder won 84 games, tied for the third most by any team in any season in NBA history. Gilgeous-Alexander finished the season with 64 games of at least 30 points. The only other players to score 30 points that many times in a season: Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Bob McAdoo, James Harden, Jordan and Abdul-Jabbar. This was not a sneak attack up the ladder of superstardom. Gilgeous-Alexander has been climbing those rungs for years. He's one of only two players — Giannis Antetokounmpo is the other — to average at least 30 points per game in each of the last three seasons. He led Canada to a bronze medal (over the United States, no less) at the World Cup in 2023, been an All-Star and first-team All-NBA pick for three years running, and just finished a season where he posted career bests in points and assists per game. He scored 3172 points this season, including playoffs, the ninth-most by any player in NBA history. Oh, and he's a champion now. "He's getting better every year in just about everything," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "I think he's really improved as a playmaker. … And then he's an unbelievable scorer, and incredibly efficient. We lean into that." Opponents have no choice but to marvel at how Gilgeous-Alexander does what he does. He's not a high-flying artist like Jordan, not an unstoppable force of power like LeBron James, not a 3-point dazzler like Stephen Curry. He looks like he's playing at his own pace much of time, largely because defences have few ways to slow him down or speed him up. "Shai, he's so good," said star Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton during the series. "He's so slippery in between those gaps. He splits screens, like, I don't know how he's doing that. … He's a really tough cover." He's the most valuable player. The scoring champion. And now, an NBA champion along with NBA Finals MVP. All in one season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has entered one of the game's most elite clubs. The 26-year-old Canadian is atop the basketball world now in almost every way imaginable after he led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA title, beating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 to win the finals in a seven-game thriller. He becomes the fourth player in NBA history to win MVP, Finals MVP, a scoring title and play for a champion in the same season. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it once, Michael Jordan then did it four times, and Shaquille O'Neal was the last entrant into that fraternity - until now. "It's hard to believe that I'm part of that group. It's hard to even fathom that I'm that type of basketball player sometimes," Gilgeous-Alexander said" ... I'm just glad and happy that my dreams have been able to come true." The title caps a season where the Thunder won 84 games, tied for the third most by any team in any season in NBA history. Gilgeous-Alexander finished the season with 64 games of at least 30 points. The only other players to score 30 points that many times in a season: Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Bob McAdoo, James Harden, Jordan and Abdul-Jabbar. This was not a sneak attack up the ladder of superstardom. Gilgeous-Alexander has been climbing those rungs for years. He's one of only two players — Giannis Antetokounmpo is the other — to average at least 30 points per game in each of the last three seasons. He led Canada to a bronze medal (over the United States, no less) at the World Cup in 2023, been an All-Star and first-team All-NBA pick for three years running, and just finished a season where he posted career bests in points and assists per game. He scored 3172 points this season, including playoffs, the ninth-most by any player in NBA history. Oh, and he's a champion now. "He's getting better every year in just about everything," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "I think he's really improved as a playmaker. … And then he's an unbelievable scorer, and incredibly efficient. We lean into that." Opponents have no choice but to marvel at how Gilgeous-Alexander does what he does. He's not a high-flying artist like Jordan, not an unstoppable force of power like LeBron James, not a 3-point dazzler like Stephen Curry. He looks like he's playing at his own pace much of time, largely because defences have few ways to slow him down or speed him up. "Shai, he's so good," said star Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton during the series. "He's so slippery in between those gaps. He splits screens, like, I don't know how he's doing that. … He's a really tough cover." He's the most valuable player. The scoring champion. And now, an NBA champion along with NBA Finals MVP. All in one season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has entered one of the game's most elite clubs. The 26-year-old Canadian is atop the basketball world now in almost every way imaginable after he led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA title, beating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 to win the finals in a seven-game thriller. He becomes the fourth player in NBA history to win MVP, Finals MVP, a scoring title and play for a champion in the same season. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it once, Michael Jordan then did it four times, and Shaquille O'Neal was the last entrant into that fraternity - until now. "It's hard to believe that I'm part of that group. It's hard to even fathom that I'm that type of basketball player sometimes," Gilgeous-Alexander said" ... I'm just glad and happy that my dreams have been able to come true." The title caps a season where the Thunder won 84 games, tied for the third most by any team in any season in NBA history. Gilgeous-Alexander finished the season with 64 games of at least 30 points. The only other players to score 30 points that many times in a season: Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Bob McAdoo, James Harden, Jordan and Abdul-Jabbar. This was not a sneak attack up the ladder of superstardom. Gilgeous-Alexander has been climbing those rungs for years. He's one of only two players — Giannis Antetokounmpo is the other — to average at least 30 points per game in each of the last three seasons. He led Canada to a bronze medal (over the United States, no less) at the World Cup in 2023, been an All-Star and first-team All-NBA pick for three years running, and just finished a season where he posted career bests in points and assists per game. He scored 3172 points this season, including playoffs, the ninth-most by any player in NBA history. Oh, and he's a champion now. "He's getting better every year in just about everything," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "I think he's really improved as a playmaker. … And then he's an unbelievable scorer, and incredibly efficient. We lean into that." Opponents have no choice but to marvel at how Gilgeous-Alexander does what he does. He's not a high-flying artist like Jordan, not an unstoppable force of power like LeBron James, not a 3-point dazzler like Stephen Curry. He looks like he's playing at his own pace much of time, largely because defences have few ways to slow him down or speed him up. "Shai, he's so good," said star Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton during the series. "He's so slippery in between those gaps. He splits screens, like, I don't know how he's doing that. … He's a really tough cover." He's the most valuable player. The scoring champion. And now, an NBA champion along with NBA Finals MVP. All in one season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has entered one of the game's most elite clubs. The 26-year-old Canadian is atop the basketball world now in almost every way imaginable after he led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA title, beating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 to win the finals in a seven-game thriller. He becomes the fourth player in NBA history to win MVP, Finals MVP, a scoring title and play for a champion in the same season. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it once, Michael Jordan then did it four times, and Shaquille O'Neal was the last entrant into that fraternity - until now. "It's hard to believe that I'm part of that group. It's hard to even fathom that I'm that type of basketball player sometimes," Gilgeous-Alexander said" ... I'm just glad and happy that my dreams have been able to come true." The title caps a season where the Thunder won 84 games, tied for the third most by any team in any season in NBA history. Gilgeous-Alexander finished the season with 64 games of at least 30 points. The only other players to score 30 points that many times in a season: Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Bob McAdoo, James Harden, Jordan and Abdul-Jabbar. This was not a sneak attack up the ladder of superstardom. Gilgeous-Alexander has been climbing those rungs for years. He's one of only two players — Giannis Antetokounmpo is the other — to average at least 30 points per game in each of the last three seasons. He led Canada to a bronze medal (over the United States, no less) at the World Cup in 2023, been an All-Star and first-team All-NBA pick for three years running, and just finished a season where he posted career bests in points and assists per game. He scored 3172 points this season, including playoffs, the ninth-most by any player in NBA history. Oh, and he's a champion now. "He's getting better every year in just about everything," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "I think he's really improved as a playmaker. … And then he's an unbelievable scorer, and incredibly efficient. We lean into that." Opponents have no choice but to marvel at how Gilgeous-Alexander does what he does. He's not a high-flying artist like Jordan, not an unstoppable force of power like LeBron James, not a 3-point dazzler like Stephen Curry. He looks like he's playing at his own pace much of time, largely because defences have few ways to slow him down or speed him up. "Shai, he's so good," said star Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton during the series. "He's so slippery in between those gaps. He splits screens, like, I don't know how he's doing that. … He's a really tough cover."
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- News.com.au
OKC Thunder claim NBA title in Game 7!
NBA: The Oklahoma City Thunder took home the 2025 NBA championship, the first in the franchise's 17 years here with a 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
