INDIANAPOLIS — The gasp inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse was followed quickly by a hush Sunday night.
Just seven minutes into Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers' roaring fans went silent, struggling to fathom what they were watching — a replay of two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton hurting his lower right leg and the anguished look on the face of his father, John.
They didn't wait to hear the diagnosis; they already figured they had it.
''I saw (his Achilles tendon) pop immediately, you could see it kind of explode,'' said 37-year-old Nick Poore, a lifelong fan of his hometown team. ''Tough. I mean it is what it is, life goes on. What else can you do besides take it on the chin, you know?''
Coach Rick Carlisle didn't confirm it was a torn Achilles tendon either during his postgame comments though he noted the team's hearts dropped just like so many inside their home arena.
Of course, Haliburton's teammates tried valiantly to rally without their leader but struggled late in the third quarter and early in the fourth of a 103-91 loss at Oklahoma City, a loss that extended Indiana's title drought to 49 years and left many wondering what's next?
This one may have been the most gut-wrenching of all.
A strained right calf had limited Haliburton to 23 minutes Thursday night, but he scored 14 points and had five assists to help Indiana force Sunday's decisive game. With two more days of rest, Haliburton said he felt better and he was early with three 3-pointers and nine points, his best start in the series.