Tyrese Haliburton’s injury in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals has drawn serious concern from medical experts. Dr. Brian Sutterer, an orthopedic specialist, analyzed the injury on his YouTube channel, explaining the mechanics behind what appears to be a significant lower leg issue.
“Everyone’s worst fear appears to have come true here,” said Sutterer, describing the moment Haliburton went down with what looked like a severe injury to his right lower extremity. The Pacers guard was seen pushing off his right leg with his ankle in a dorsiflexed position, which put extreme tension on the Achilles tendon.
According to Sutterer, the injury likely occurred during a sudden concentric contraction of the calf muscles while the Achilles tendon was being eccentrically loaded. He pointed out the classic “recoil” motion of the calf muscle that strongly suggests an Achilles tendon rupture.
“The weakest point in that chain is going to get injured,” he explained, referring to the tendon-muscle complex of the calf and Achilles tendon. Sutterer compared Haliburton’s injury to the Achilles rupture suffered by Kevin Durant, which also started as a calf strain before worsening.
The Pacers have so far described Haliburton’s issue as a calf strain, but Sutterer questioned if the injury was mischaracterized. “I wonder if what was going on all along was more of an Achilles tendon strain being presented as a calf strain,” he said.
He emphasized that muscle strains usually do not produce the dramatic recoil seen in Haliburton’s replay. This leads him to believe the injury could be more severe than initially reported.
Sutterer also cautioned about the risk players take when competing on such injuries. “Teams try to paint a positive picture,” he said, “but we don’t always have the full story about where exactly the injury lies in the muscle-tendon unit.”
Haliburton left the game early after scoring nine points in just over seven minutes. His injury came as the Indiana Pacers fell 103-91 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who claimed their first NBA title since relocating from Seattle.
This injury raises concerns for the Pacers’ future. If Haliburton has ruptured his Achilles tendon, he could face a lengthy recovery that would likely keep him sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season.
Dr. Sutterer expressed his sympathy for Haliburton, noting, “I am absolutely gutted for him. I wanted to see the Pacers win.”
