10 freak injuries that flipped NBA Playoff series instantly

The NBA Playoffs are built on moments that include big shots, momentum swings, and career-defining superstar performances. But every now and then, the biggest turning point in a series isn’t a play at all. It’s an injury.

What makes playoff injuries so brutal isn’t just the pain or the visuals, it’s the timing. These are games where everything is magnified. Rotations are tighter, pressure is higher, and every possession feels like it matters a little more. So when a key player suddenly goes down, it doesn’t just hurt the team, it can completely flip the direction of a series.

MORE: Phoenix Suns-Portland Trail Blazers NBA Play-In game preview & odds

Sometimes it’s obvious right away. A player collapses, the crowd goes quiet, and you know things won’t be the same. Other times, it’s more subtle, just an awkward landing, a tweak that doesn’t look serious at first, but slowly changes how a team plays. Either way, the impact can be massive. A contender can turn into an underdog overnight.

Even now, we’re reminded how fragile everything is. Bam Adebayo dealing with injury concerns during today’s Play-In game vs the Charlotte Hornets is a perfect example. In a do-or-die setting, even a slight limitation can shift momentum and put a team at a disadvantage.

That’s the reality of playoff basketball. It’s not always just about talent or strategy, it’s about who can stay on the floor. And throughout NBA history, there have been moments where a single injury didn’t just change a game, but altered the outcome of an entire postseason.

MORE: 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament TV schedule, full list of games & tip times

This list looks at ten of those moments.

10. Amar’e Stoudemire — 2012 First Round (Game 2)

New York Knicks power forward Amare Stoudemire (1) drives to the basket between Cleveland Cavaliers guard Manny Harris (6) and power forward Samardo Samuels (24) during the game at Quicken Loans Arena.

This one didn’t even happen during live play, which makes it all the more bizarre. After a frustrating Game 2 loss, Stoudemire punched a glass fire extinguisher case and ended up him having a severely cut hand and missing Game 3. For the Knicks, losing a key scorer like that off pure emotion pretty much sealed their fate and made them go 0-3 in the first three games. He, however, returned at Game 4.

9. Kyrie Irving — 2015 NBA Finals (Game 1)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) falls to the floor while being defended by Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the overtime period in game one of the NBA Finals. at Oracle Arena.

Irving had been electric all postseason, giving Cleveland a real second star alongside LeBron James. But in overtime of Game 1, he went down with a fractured kneecap after an awkward landing. Just like that, the Cavaliers’ championship hopes took a massive hit. Without Kyrie, the offense became entirely dependent on LeBron, allowing Golden State to key in defensively. Cleveland still fought hard, but losing their primary shot-creator at the very start of the Finals completely shifted the series, and likely the title.

8. Chris Bosh — 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Game 1)

Miami Heat power forward Chris Bosh (1) goes for a rebound against Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) and shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha (2) during the fourth quarter of game one in the 2012 NBA Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder defeated the Heat 105-94.

Bosh went down early in the series with an abdominal strain. While there was no dramatic fall, it was a serious injury. Still, the impact was immediate. Miami suddenly had to reshuffle everything, leaning heavily on LeBron James and Wade. It didn’t end their run, but it made the road to the title much tougher than expected.

7. Derrick Rose — 2012 First Round (Game 1)

Chicago Bulls injured point guard Derrick Rose (1) is helped off the court by medical staff during the fourth quarter in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center.

Late in Game 1, with the Bulls already in control, Rose planted awkwardly and tore his ACL. It was one of those moments where the arena just went silent. Chicago went from a top contender to vulnerable overnight. Not only did they lose the series, but it also changed the long-term trajectory of Rose’s career.

MORE: NBA teams with 55+ losses in 2025-26 regular season

6. Chris Paul — 2018 Western Conference Finals (Game 5)

Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) brings the ball up court during the first quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center.

Houston was right there — up 3–2 against Golden State and on the verge of something historic. Then Paul pulled his hamstring late in Game 5. Without him, the Rockets’ offense lost its composure and creativity. They still had chances, but missing their leader in Games 6 and 7 proved to be the difference.

5. Russell Westbrook — 2013 First Round (Game 2)

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) does a little dance as he celebrates from the bench during the fourth quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. The Thunder won the game 106-90.

This one still feels surreal. Westbrook was simply calling a timeout when Patrick Beverley crashed into his knee. Torn meniscus, and that was it. The Thunder lost their explosive backcourt identity instantly, and what looked like a deep playoff run suddenly fell apart.

4. Tyrese Haliburton — 2025 NBA Finals (Game 3)

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts after suffering an injury during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder during game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center.

In the middle of the 2025 NBA Finals, Haliburton suddenly went down without any contact. Those are always the scariest because there’s no clear cause—just a bad feeling right away. As the team’s offensive engine, his absence disrupted everything from ball movement to spacing. In a tight Finals, that kind of loss can quietly decide the outcome.

3. Klay Thompson — 2019 Finals (Game 6)

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) reacts after an injury during the third quarter against the Toronto Raptors in game six of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena.

Klay was having one of those classic playoff games — confident, aggressive, and scoring at will. Then came the fast-break dunk attempt, where he landed awkwardly and tore his ACL. In true Klay fashion, he still knocked down his free throws before leaving. But once he was out, the Warriors’ hopes of forcing a Game 7 basically disappeared.

2. Kawhi Leonard — 2017 Western Conference Finals (Game 1)

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after an injury during the third quarter in game one of the Western Conference Finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena.

San Antonio came out strong and looked ready to challenge the Warriors. Then Kawhi landed on Zaza Pachulia’s foot after a jumper and rolled his ankle badly. The shift was immediate; you could feel the series slip away right there. Without Kawhi, the Spurs just couldn’t keep up, and what could’ve been a battle turned into a sweep.

1. Kevin Durant — 2019 Finals (Game 5)

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) is helped up by guard Quinn Cook (4) and guard Klay Thompson (11) after an apparent injury during the second quarter in game five of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena

Warriors’ Durant returned from a calf strain in Game 5 against the Toronto Raptors with Golden State desperate to stay alive. For a few minutes, he looked like himself, scoring effortlessly and changing the tone. Then came the moment: his Achilles snapped, and you could see it in real time. That was the turning point, not just for the series, but arguably for the entire league landscape that followed.

MORE: NBA playoff bracket set ahead of play-in tournament starting on Tuesday, April 14

Conclusion

What makes these injuries so “freaky” isn’t just how they happen—it’s when they happen. Playoffs magnify everything, and losing a star at the wrong moment can rewrite entire legacies. In many of these cases, we’re still debating how different NBA history might look if just one step, landing, or moment had gone differently.