Nearly 500 days had passed since Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton last played in a regular-season NBA game. On Wednesday, the two-time All-Star made his long-awaited return, scoring 23 points to help Indiana secure a 123-120 season-opening victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Haliburton was sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder went on to win the championship that year.
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During Wednesday’s on-court postgame interview, the conversation took an emotional turn as Haliburton reflected on his long road back to the hardwood.
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Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots the ball during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 21, 2026, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La. (Derick Hingle/NBAE via Getty Images)
Asked about his performance in the season opener and how much fun he had playing with his teammates, Haliburton became visibly emotional.
“It means a lot to be back out here,” Haliburton said as he fought back tears.
“We’ve got a lot to pick up, the second quarter wasn’t good. But, we’re battle-tested so we finished this game the right way. Just really proud of this group.”
Haliburton added: “… I’m just really thankful to be back out here.”
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 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Jun 22, 2025. (Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images)
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Haliburton came through in the closing minutes, making a key play that put the Pacers ahead for good after they had trailed by as many as 10 points.
Haliburton was particularly productive in the final quarter Wednesday, scoring 16 of his 23 points in that period.
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Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton looks on before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on Oct. 21, 2026. (Derick Hingle/NBAE via Getty Images)
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The Pacers experienced a significant drop-off without their star guard last season, finishing with just 19 wins. That was a far cry from the team that had come within one victory of winning an NBA championship the year before.
With Haliburton back, Indiana expects to contend in a competitive Eastern Conference. The Pacers host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday for their home opener.