Tyrese Haliburton’s return to the floor on opening night came with a nod to one of WWE’s most recognizable comeback stories, and Triple H made sure the tribute didn’t go unnoticed.
Before the Indiana Pacers star played his first game since tearing his Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals in June 2025, Haliburton arrived wearing a denim jacket that matched the one Triple H famously wore during his 2002 return from a quad injury. The look was a clear salute to “The Game,” and Triple H replied to the Pacers’ post showing off Haliburton’s pregame fit with: “Game.
Start. [Hammer and pick emoji].”
Haliburton is a major WWE fan, so the acknowledgment from Triple H likely landed hard. He last showed up in the ring at Saturday Night’s Main Event in July 2026, when he reignited his rivalry with New York Knicks captain Jalen Brunson.
On the basketball side, the comeback went well. Haliburton was back on the floor for Indiana’s first win of the year, and he looked sharp in 34 minutes, finishing with 23 points and a team-high 12 assists. Pascal Siakam paced the Pacers with 30 points, while Obi Toppin added 20 off the bench as Indiana took down the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Pacers badly missed Haliburton last season. Without him, they stumbled to a 19-63 record in the regular season and missed the playoffs a year after coming close to a title.
Since arriving in Indiana in 2022, Haliburton has put together a résumé that includes two NBA All-Star selections and two All-NBA Third Team honors. He began his career with the Sacramento Kings, who selected him in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft out of Iowa State, and he earned All-Rookie First Team honors in 2021.
In Other News...
Obi Toppin May Be Exactly What The Pacers Need Right Now
The Pacers opened the season with a 123-120 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, and one of the most encouraging signs came from a player who was supposed to help from the second unit. Obi Toppin gave Indiana a burst of offense off the bench, scoring 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting in 24 minutes while showing the kind of versatility that can make a rotation click.
For a team that wants to keep its tempo high and its lineups balanced, Toppins fit matters beyond one strong night. He gave Indiana scoring, movement and coverage across multiple positions, the sort of backup presence that can settle a bench group and keep the offense flowing when the starters sit. If the Pacers are looking for depth they can trust early, Toppin may already be answering the call. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Already Face An Early Injury Problem They Cant Ignore
The early injury chatter around the league already has an Indiana angle, with several familiar names showing up on the latest availability reports. AJ Dybantsa will miss his regular season debut for Washington because of a left ankle sprain, while a string of other players are dealing with issues of their own, including Tristan Vukcevic, Felix Okpara, Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic and Dereck Lively II.
For the Pacers, the bigger concern is the state of their own rotation and how quickly these early absences can reshape a game plan. T.J. McConnell, Aaron Nesmith and Ben Sheppard are among the players listed as sidelined or questionable in recent updates, and when the injury report starts stacking up this early, every status check matters even more than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Get One Encouraging Return As Another Injury Concern Lingers
The Bulls did get a bit of good news as the regular season opened, with Zach Collins back after a quad injury and available in a limited role. Head coach Tiago Splitter said the team will have to be careful with Collins minutes, settling him in around 12 to 16 per game while sorting through different rotation combinations and trying to make up for the absence of starting center Nic Claxton.
There is still another layer of concern in Chicago, though, because Josh Giddey said a preseason wrist injury will need to be managed all season. In a Central Division where the Pacers are off to a winning start behind Tyrese Haliburton and rivals around them are already dealing with their own early-season issues, the Bulls are left balancing short-term help with longer-term caution before the calendar even gets going. [Read more 🡒]