Pacers and Haliburton receive heartbreaking injury update
The Indiana Pacers star has been given his diagnosis and rehab schedule for the recent injury suffered.
The Indiana Pacers have confirmed that Tyrese Haliburton will not play next season as he recovers from a harrowing achilles injury suffered in the NBA Championship Final loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The warning signs were arguably there for Haliburton and the Pacers: the 25-year-old suffered a calf strain in Game 5 and was listed as a game-time decision for the following round. Despite the concern, he was given the green light and played in Game 6 before tearing his Achilles in Game 7.
“I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever,” Pacers president Kevin Pritchard assured on Monday before revealing that “The surgery went well. It was a little higher and he gets more blood to that area [as he recovers]."
‘Haliburton “will not play next year’
However, Pritchard confirmed to the press that Haliburton “will not play next year. We would not jeopardise that now," before adding "don’t get any hopes up that he will play.”
Haliburton had put away nine points with three 3-pointers before leaving the floor; without him, the Pacers were outscored 56-43 in the second half as the Thunder raced to a 103-91 victory.
Across the season, the two-time All Star averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and an impressive 9.2 assists per game, ranking third in the NBA in assists. He shot efficiently, hitting 47.3% from the field, 38.8% from three, and 85.1% from the free-throw line. He averaged 14 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.6 rebounds during the NBA Finals.
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As for the Pacers as a whole, they had a standout 2024–25 season, finishing with a 50‑32 record, finishing 2nd in the Central Division and 4th in the Eastern Conference. Their offence was the standout feature of the side, ranking 2nd in offensive ratings, leading the NBA in assist percentage and true shooting percentage.
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