From Haliburton’s injury to KD trade, how NBA’s wild Sunday impacts Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics’ 370-day reign as NBA champions ended Sunday. But even before the Oklahoma City Thunder outlasted the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals, the NBA delivered an absolutely head-spinning final day that will have lasting repercussions on the league as a whole.
The Houston Rockets acquired Kevin Durant in hopes of chasing the new champs. The Pacers lost Tyrese Hailburton to an Achilles injury that potentially could sideline him for the entirety of the 2025-26 season.
How did the NBA’s wild day impact the Celtics? Let’s digest it all:
East feels even more wide open
You can’t help but feel for the Pacers. Not only did they endure a stomach punch of a Game 7 loss to the Thunder — a close game that got ripped open in the second half as Indy struggled with ball security in Haliburton’s absence — but the injury to their star guard now complicates their path to getting back to the championship stage.
In the span of less than two months, Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, and Damian Lillard all suffered Achilles injuries. The Pacers, Bucks, and Celtics have represented the Eastern Conference in four of the last five NBA Finals. If the conference felt wide open before Game 7, it feels especially outstretched as we wait for the league calendar to officially flip.
Every single playoff qualifier in the East last season should feel like it can win the conference next season. Some of that confidence will hinge on how rosters shake out this summer, but even the trio of teams that lost their stars to Achilles injuries can still compete given the state of the conference.
The Magic already loaded up with the addition of Desmond Bane. The Pistons still have room for a big swing. The Cavaliers are smarting from an early exit after dominating the conference. The Knicks still need a coach but are coming off the deep trek to the East Finals.
The East could be a lot of fun next season despite some star absences.
