The Indiana Pacers hearts dropped after Tyrese Haliburton injury Rick Carlisle

OKLAHOMA CITY – Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said his team’s “hearts dropped” after seeing Tyrese Haliburton’s early injury exit in their National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals defeat by the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 22.

Pacers talisman Haliburton – the pivotal figure in Indiana’s run through the play-offs – collapsed to the hardwood in agony early in the first quarter and did not return.

The 25-year-old, who had been nursing a right calf strain since last week, hobbled off the court supported by Pacers backroom staff, and was later seen on crutches following Indiana’s 103-91 defeat.

Haliburton started off hot, hitting three three-pointers in a little more than five minutes to start the game.

“What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped,” Carlisle said in a post-game press conference.

“But he will be back. I don’t have any medical information about what may or may not have happened, but he’ll be back in time, and I believe he’ll make a full recovery.”

“I was thinking about it the whole game,” admitted Pacers forward Obi Toppin, who was 0-for-four from the field.

Haliburton’s father earlier told ESPN his son had suffered an Achilles injury. The Pacers said Haliburton exited with a “lower right leg injury.”

Carlisle meanwhile saluted Haliburton’s role in an against-the-odds run to the brink of an NBA championship.

“He authored one of the great individual play-off runs in the history of the NBA with dramatic play after dramatic play,” Carlisle said.

“It was just something that no one’s ever seen and he did it as one of 17. You know, that’s the beautiful thing about him.

“As great a player as he is, it’s always a team thing. So, our hearts go out to him.”

Carlisle said Haliburton had helped gee up the squad in