'Gut-punched' Reggie Miller lays bare emotions to Tyrese Haliburton and Pacers nation after devastating Finals loss

Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller laid out his emotions in a touching Instagram post, reaching out to Tyrese Haliburton and Co. following their loss in the NBA Finals. The Pacers reached the 2025 NBA Finals as the underdogs and took the OKC Thunder to Game 7 thanks to their grit and unmatched teamwork.

Unfortunately, all the wear and tear from the season caught up to Haliburton, who tore his ACL just seven minutes into the first quarter of Game 7. With the Pacers guard out, the Thunder rallied to a 103-91 win.

After the game, Reggie Miller posted a message on Instagram showing support for Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers:

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“I felt the gut punch to Pacer Nation, not only from the loss, but the loss of our fearless leader @tyresehaliburton. The man upstairs always has a master plan and 'this too shall pass.' “I’m very grateful of the @pacers TEAM for bringing so much pride, grit and togetherness back to Indiana basketball.. Masterful job on the sideline Coach Rick Carlisle, and let’s not forget about all the men and women who work in the Front Offices who sacrifice a lot of their time to make things happen.”

Their run might have come to a disappointing end, but it was legendary nonetheless. The Pacers, being underdogs throughout the playoffs, reached Game 7 and were 48 minutes away from winning the organization’s first-ever championship.

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How long is Tyrese Haliburton expected to be out with his latest injury?

From the looks of it and as per his father, Tyrese Haliburton has suffered an Achilles injury, which will require both surgery and months of rehab to properly recover from. In the past, similar injuries have caused players to miss entire seasons before they’re ready to hit the court again.

When Kevin Durant tore his Achilles during the 2019 NBA Finals, he didn’t return to the floor until the 2020-21 season. It is therefore likely that Haliburton will miss a huge portion, or perhaps the entirety, of 2025-26.

A heartbreaking outcome for the Pacers, who established themselves as one of the best teams in the league. After the disappointment of the 2025 NBA Finals, the Pacers will surely look to come back with the same tenacity next season.

Edited by Nadim El Kak