Magnus Carlsen Laments Tyrese Haliburton Injury Despite Wife’s Birthday

Chess master Magnus Carlsen was left devasted after coming across Tyrese Haliburton's injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Thunder.

Magnus Carlsen Laments Tyrese Haliburton Injury Despite Wife’s Birthday

Tyrese Haliburton and Magnus Carlsen (Image by FirstSportz)

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 at the Paycom Center to win the 2025 NBA championship. While the players, staff, and OKC supporters celebrated this significant milestone in the franchise’s history, the festivities were in full swing. Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, a Thunder star, led them to victory.

However, while many were celebrating this moment, some were left devastated by the Pacers’ loss in Game 7. One of them is World No.1 Chess star, Magnus Carlsen. To make matters worse for him, it was his wife’s birthday, but the Chess master did not think twice before opening up on the Pacers’ loss. He also tweeted about Tyrese Haliburton’s injury.

Worst way to start the day when I open the NBA app in no spoilers mode, click on all possessions, and it shows images of Haliban going down, and OKC celebrating before starting the video. Oh well, happy birthday to my wife I guess

Magnus Carlsen tweeted

For context, the Pacers’ defeat was terrible. Their suffering was exacerbated by the fact that Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ star point guard, missed most of the game due to what his father said was an Achilles injury sustained in the first quarter. Haliburton competed on Sunday even though he had suffered a right calf strain early in the tournament.

On the other hand, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was rightfully chosen as the NBA Finals’ Most Valuable Player (MVP). Notably, since LeBron James in the 2012–2013 season, Gilgeous-Alexander is the only player to win MVP honors for both the regular season and the Finals in the same season.

This season will be remembered as SGA’s NBA career high point. The Thunder standout won the 2025 championship, the NBA MVP award, and the Finals MVP award. He will never forget that year.

ESPN’s Shams Charania revealed important information regarding Tyrese Haliburton’s Game 7 injury

The Indiana Pacers’ chances of winning an NBA championship have been significantly impacted by Tyrese Haliburton’s injury. The great guard tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to sources who spoke to ESPN on Monday.

In an attempt to heal from the horrific injury, Haliburton, who was already dealing with a calf strain during the Finals, is now thinking about having surgery. Haliburton was carried to the locker room with his face covered with towels and without placing any weight on his leg.

His family encircled him during the remainder of the 103-91 loss, and he heard cheers coming across the locker room as the Pacers failed to win the title without him. Before Sunday, he was producing 17.7 points and a playoff-high 9.0 assists on 46% shooting. For one postseason, his 197 assists set a franchise record. Now, it remains to be seen how the Pacers’ star man recovers from this setback.

Pacers HC Rick Carlisle shared his views on the Tyrese Haliburton injury

Of course, nobody would want to see their star man get injured in one of the most important games of the NBA season. For the Pacers’ HC Rick Carlisle, that’s exactly what happened, leaving him and his staff completely heartbroken in the process. After the game, Carlisle send out a clear message on his star’s injury that led to the Pacers’ loss.

What happened with Tyrese, all of our hearts dropped, 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.

Rick Carlisle told the reporters
Tyrese Haliburton 2
Tyrese Haliburton (Credits: X)

Leading Indiana on their unlikely journey to the Finals, Haliburton, 25, emerged as the postseason’s breakthrough hero. He became the first player in the league to make a game-winning or tying shot in the closing seconds of each of the four rounds. Now, only time will tell whether or not Haliburton and Co. have it in them to do it all over again in the 2025-26 NBA season.

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