Pacers fans gasp at Haliburton's Game 7 injury in NBA Finals before responding to Indiana's effort
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) leaves the court with an injury during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Indiana Pacers fans cheer during the second half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Indiana Pacers fans react during the second half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Indiana Pacers fans react during the second half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton lays on the court after an injury during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) leaves the court with an injury during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Indiana Pacers fans cheer during the second half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Indiana Pacers fans react during the second half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Pacers fans arrived at Gainbridge Fieldhouse ready to celebrate their first NBA title.
Seven minutes into the game came the hush.
As star point guard Tyrese Haliburton fell to the floor in Oklahoma City on Sunday night with what his father, John, later called an Achilles tendon injury, fans gasped as the replay was shown and they saw the anguished look on John Haliburton's face.
Advertisement
The moment may go down as another cruel chapter in the franchise's long, painful history.
'Absolutely not what we wanted to see but you know what he's going to want. He's going to want this team to continue to fight,' Chris Denari, the Pacers' television play-by-play announcer, said to tempered cheers. 'He is the leader of this team. We know what he's meant since he arrived from Sacramento and he's going to need all of our thoughts and prayers, but he is going to want this team to fight and win an NBA title.'
The Pacers didn't stay down long.
As the Pacers fought through the loss of Haliburton, the near-sellout crowd had raucous reactions to each Pacers 3-pointer, Thunder foul or turnover.
Advertisement
It is Indiana, after all.
But these fans are also plenty familiar with what happened Sunday.
Since the ABA powerhouse joined the NBA in 1976-77, it has endured seemingly every imaginable and unimaginable setback: the 1977 telethon that saved the team, the Malice in the Palace that cost Reggie Miller his last title shot, the near-misses against LeBron James more than a decade ago and last year's Eastern Conference finals sweep as the injured Haliburton watched the last two games from the bench.
There's also the injury legacy. Danny Granger, Paul George and Victor Oladipo all appeared to be ascending when their careers were derailed by injuries, and now the fear is Haliburton could join that list.
Advertisement
How painful has it been to be a Pacers fan? Just ask 27-year-old Anthony Brehob, who came dressed in a No. 55 Roy Hibbert jersey and had big expectations before tip-off.
"Heartbreaking,' Brehob said, describing the back-to-back conference finals losses to James and the Heat in 2013 and 2014. 'I'm expecting a close game, and I'm really hoping Haliburton pulls it off at the end. If they lose, it's going to be a long night.'
The Pacers' effort brought the crowd back into it. Indiana fought through Haliburton's injury, rekindling thoughts of another comeback story from the state that produced 'Hoosiers.'
Pregame lines snaked around the arena for more than an hour and with the roaring crowd and familiar soundtracks, it was hard to tell if the first Game 7 in an NBA Finals since 2016 was being played in Indy — or nearly 800 miles away in Oklahoma City.
Advertisement
'This is like triple what it was, and they won it that year,' 53-year-old Rick McNeely said after making the journey from Dayton, Ohio, to Indy, comparing this trip to the one he made to Chicago when Michael Jordan won his last title. 'I think it's because this is Indiana.'
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson begin to show what's possible with Bears
The Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson era couldn't have gotten off to a better start. Yes, it was only preseason. Still, Caleb Williams had one of the better drives we have seen from him as an NFL quarterback. Caleb did a lot of things he struggled with in his rookie season and looked like a completely different player. It is always hard to predict how things will go after seeing preseason action, especially given that the Buffalo Bills were not playing their starters against the Chicago Bears, but seeing a glimpse of how efficient and dangerous this Bears offense can be has to get Chicago fans excited. Brendan Sugrue with Bears Wire gave his thoughts on the early success of Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams: "Williams and the starting offense opened things up with an impressive touchdown drive where he went 5-of-6 for 97 yards. He was accurate and poised, delivering the ball quickly to tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet while firing a dart to Olamide Zaccheaus for the touchdown. His lone miss was on a play where he was pressured to his right and had to make an off-balance throw to Zaccheaus that came a play before they connected for a touchdown. "All in all, Williams finished the day going 6-of-10 for 107 yards and a touchdown with a passer rating of 130.0. Williams is starting with his left foot forward, a change from last year. His base looks improved from his rookie season as well, something that wasn't always consistent. The best news, however, may be that Williams didn't take a single sack in either series after he took 68 in 2024. There is a long way to go, but the unofficial start to the Williams and Johnson partnership could not have gone much better than it did on Sunday night." Caleb Williams had the fourth highest PFF grade among all quarterbacks in Week 2 of the NFL preseason. He ultimately was one of the biggest winners from this week. All of the offseason banter that painted Caleb Williams in a negative light seems to be simmering down after Sunday night's performance. Given how creative and efficient Ben Johnson's offense is, a consistently excellent Caleb Williams will make the Bears very dangerous in the NFC. We will see Caleb Williams have an MVP-level season. In that sole drive Caleb Williams not only looked like Jared Goff, but he also looked a lot like number 13 for the USC Trojans a couple seasons ago. Getting Caleb Williams to make plays on time and be the player who was drafted No. 1 will take this Bears team to new heights this season. This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Caleb Williams evolves in Ben Johnson's new-look Bears offense
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Miami-Dade Schools agree to $13.5 million partnership with Adidas, which will provide equipment to 40 high schools
Athletes in Miami-Dade County Public Schools will have a fresh look for the next five years. The organization announced a $13.5 million partnership with Adidas on Monday, which will supply equipment to athletes from 40 different high schools in the area, according to multiple reports. The district announced the news at Traz Powell Stadium — located in Westview, FL — on Monday. Athletes showed off new uniforms and equipment at the event. As part of the deal, Adidas received naming rights to the field at Traz Powell Stadium. For the next five years, it will be known as "Adidas Field at Traz Powell Stadium." The partnership will include any apparel made my Adidas, from uniforms to shoes to other equipment. Pieces of equipment that Adidas doesn't normally make — like baseball bats — will need to be sourced from elsewhere, per the Miami Herald. Prior to the partnership, each school would need to dip into its funds to secure uniforms and equipment for its sports teams. That will no longer be the case under the Adidas deal. In exchange for providing equipment, Adidas will receive "most of the profit from a new website set up by the school district," per The website features Adidas-branded clothing specific to each school in the area. Adidas is plenty familiar with the area. The company also has partnerships with the FIU, Florida Atlantic and the University of Miami.
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dodgers notes: Alex Call, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández
The Dodgers weren't as active at the trade deadline as they had been in years past, and the early results weren't inspiring to say the least. Brock Stewart's reunion has lasted just four appearances, suffering a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 4 before being placed on the 15-day IL due to right shoulder inflammation. Alex Call, whom the Dodgers received from the Washington Nationals at the deadline, was hitting just .174 as a with his new team across 28 plate appearances entering Tuesday. He showed why the Dodgers had such high interest in him on Tuesday, as he finished a triple shy of the cycle while collecting four hits in the Dodgers' 11-4 win over the Colorado Rockies. Call spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA about his four-hit performance— the second of his career— and the mindset he had during his final two at-bats, where his chances at a cycle were in jeopardy. 'I was just trying to get on base. It's tough when everybody else is yelling 'If you hit the ball, you better not stop running.' It's a special thing to even be in that situation. I didn't do it tonight, but maybe, in the future.' The most glaring issue for the Dodgers during Monday's defeat to Colorado was their outfield defense, as a misplayed pop up by Teoscar Hernández in the bottom of the ninth inning allowed the eventual game-winning run to reach scoring position. While Hernández has a respectable .990 fielding percentage, second among qualified right fielders this year, his -9 outs above average rank in the first percentile, ranking third to last among all qualified right fielders. His -9 fielding run value and -3 defensive runs saves also rank third to last among all qualified right fielders. The topic of Mookie Betts moving back to right field to aid a struggling defense wasn't included in Dave Roberts' meeting with the Dodger shortstop, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, and Hernández will continue to patrol right field. 'We have not talked about right field at all,' Roberts said. 'He was saying a lot of things when he was mired in his struggles that I didn't want to hear, so I don't know. He might have. But no, we haven't talked about it.' Hernández's defense did improve in Tuesday's win, and as Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times notes, Dave Roberts is confident in Hernández's defensive capabilities in right field. 'There's been times that he's played a formidable right field,' he said. 'I think he's going to get back to that. I really do.'
