Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) is assisted after an apparent injury following a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Indianapolis Colts Offer Comfort for Indiana Pacers After NBA Finals

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Rex Villas | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 2:11 PM ET

Sunday was a tough one for fans of Indianapolis pro sports. Not only did Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever lose to the Las Vegas Aces, but the Indiana Pacers also failed in their bid to upset the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. With the NFL still in the offseason, the Indianapolis Colts couldn’t do much to try to alleviate the sports melancholia in the Hoosier State.

Making the day even harder for Indy sports fans was the devastating Achilles injury that Tyrese Haliburton suffered in the opening quarter of the Thunder game.

It was not the outcome Indiana fans expected. They felt the Pacers could turn the tables on the Thunder even in enemy territory, as Indiana managed to push the 68-win OKC squad to a winner-take-all showdown. But the Pacers just simply couldn’t find a way to win it all, in large part because of Haliburton’s injury.

Indianapolis Colts react to Pacers’ Game 7 loss to Oklahoma City

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) talks to Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (1) on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, during pregame warm-up at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Colts can certainly feel the pain as well. In an attempt to console the Pacers and Indiana’s fanbase, the Colts sent a two-emoji message after the Thunder’s 103-91 victory at Paycom Center.

https://t.co/1JjNxV83W2

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) June 23, 2025

The good news is that the Pacers can be an inspiration for the Colts. Indiana was not a top seed entering the NBA Playoffs and not many expected them to have a deep run in the postseason, let alone push the Thunder to the absolute limit in the NBA Finals.

The Colts are also not viewed as a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the 2025 NFL season, but the element of surprise is still there for Indianapolis, which went 8-9 in 2024.

Jun 12, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) pitches a ball during training camp at the Farm Bureau Football complex. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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