Toppin's Tears: Emotional Reaction to Pacers' Game 7 Defeat

Oklahoma City - The Indiana Pacers' magical run came to a heartbreaking end as they lost to the Thunder in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, 103-91.

The loss was compounded by an Achilles injury suffered by Tyrese Haliburton just seven minutes into the first quarter. His father said it was an Achilles injury, and Haliburton was seen using crutches after the game.

After the game went final, Pacers players shed tears of sorrow, including Obi Toppin who walked off the court with his jersey pulled up to his eyes, hands on his face.

"It didn't go the way we wanted it," Toppin said. "I played terrible today. (Expletive) felt like it was my fault. We got to learn from it and just get back in next year."

Toppin's emotions were raw, having never felt that way before. He played 21 minutes in Game 7, shooting 0-4 from the field and scoring zero points.

"We needed Ty out there," Toppin said. "He's been good for us all year and for him to go down, beginning of the game like that, that (expletive) sucked the soul out of us. I ain't going to say out of everybody but I don't feel like I played good because I was thinking about it the whole day and I felt like it was my fault."

Toppin admitted he was consumed by thoughts of Haliburton's injury throughout the game.

"He definitely wanted to be there and we felt that," Toppin said. "He was a soldier and he went until he couldn't and that's all we can ask from any guy on this team, and any guy will tell you, anybody on this team is going to go until they can't anymore. We love Ty and we hope for a speedy recovery."

Toppin has three years left on his four-year, $58 million contract with the Pacers. Despite the loss, he believes the team will return stronger sooner rather than later.