OKLAHOMA CITY (AFP) — 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 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday (Manila time).

Pacers talisman Haliburton — the pivotal figure in Indiana’s run through the playoffs — 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.

“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.”

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.