Tyrese Haliburton’s return is still not around the corner.
Before the Pacers faced the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, Rick Carlisle gave the latest on his star point guard’s hamstring injury, and the update pushed any comeback further down the road. Carlisle had said two weeks ago that Haliburton was week-to-week and asked reporters to check back after that span. When that window arrived, the news was still not what Indiana wanted to hear.
“He’s progressing and the hamstring is doing better,” Carlisle said. “Check back in ten days. I think that’s reasonable.”
That puts the earliest possible return on November 22, when Indiana goes to Madison Square Garden to play the New York Knicks for the only time this season.
The timing is rough for a Pacers team staring at a brutal stretch. Indiana opens that run with a two-game homestand against the Wizards and Knicks, then heads to Philadelphia to face LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers. After that, the Pacers return home for Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and the Houston Rockets, then go to Cleveland for Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and the Cavaliers.
There is at least one small break built into the schedule. After the 76ers game, Indiana gets two days off, which should allow for a much-needed practice before the Rockets come to town. Carlisle has already talked about how tough this recent stretch has been without practice time, noting that the only availability came during the team’s trip to Mexico City for its game against the Denver Nuggets.
Without Haliburton, the Pacers have struggled to stack wins. They are 1-6 this season when he’s out, and over his four seasons in Indiana, the team is a rough 38-99 without him.
For the players who are available, the task is simple enough, even if the schedule is not: find a way to win anyway. This is a group that usually rises or falls with the level of the opponent, and these next few games offer a chance to show what they can do.
Indiana’s backcourt should get a boost once T.J. McConnell comes off his minutes restriction, but until then, Andrew Nembhard, Braden Smith and Quenton Jackson will keep handling the point guard duties.
It’s not the update anyone was hoping for, but the Pacers are clearly prioritizing the bigger picture. Getting their franchise centerpiece back healthy matters more than pushing him too soon and risking another setback.
In Other News...
Pacers Suddenly Face Another Aaron Nesmith Concern They Cant Ignore
Aaron Nesmiths night against the Washington Wizards ended early after he left with a right knee injury, adding another layer of concern to a Pacers season already dealing with its share of health questions. Rick Carlisle said Nesmith felt tightness in the back of the knee and is being treated as day-to-day while Indiana waits for further evaluation.
For a Pacers team that has already seen Nesmith miss time earlier this season with a left hamstring injury, the timing makes this especially worth watching. His availability has become a moving target, and even a brief absence can matter for a roster that leans on his energy, defense and two-way presence on the wing. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Still Waiting As Tyrese Haliburton Return Timeline Gets Murkier
Tyrese Haliburton is still out with a left hamstring strain, and the Pacers are left to keep sorting through a stretch without their primary playmaker. Rick Carlisle has called the injury mild and week-to-week, but the original two-week recovery estimate has already come and gone without Haliburton being cleared to return.
For Indiana, the timing only adds to the frustration as the team keeps chasing its first home win of the season. There is still no confirmed return date, which leaves the Pacers waiting on the one player who most shapes their pace, ball movement and late-game organization. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Got The Home Win But Haliburton Questions Still Loom
The Pacers finally got a home win to settle things down a bit, knocking off the Washington Wizards 114-101 in a game that gave Indiana a cleaner look on both ends of the floor. Ivica Zubac led the way with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Andrew Nembhard added 17 points and 10 assists to help steady the offense and keep the Pacers in control.
Still, the bigger storyline around the team is not going away anytime soon. Rick Carlisle said the next update on Tyrese Haliburtons status is expected in about 10 days, leaving Indiana to keep piecing things together while waiting for a clearer picture of where its star guard stands. The win offered a needed boost, but it also underscored how much of the Pacers bigger picture remains tied to Haliburtons recovery. [Read more 🡒]