Tyrese Haliburton is back on the floor, and the Indiana Pacers finally got the sight they’ve been waiting for.
The All-Star point guard returned to live NBA action on Wednesday in a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, the old college home where Haliburton starred for Iowa State. He didn’t waste time making his presence felt, either. Haliburton scored Indiana’s first points of the night on a counter-attack with Pascal Siakam.
For a Pacers team that spent most of last season searching for its footing, that opening bucket meant plenty. Indiana went from 50 wins and an Eastern Conference Finals trip in the 2024-25 season to 19-63 last season, and its offensive rating fell from 116.5 to 110.9. The drop-off made Haliburton’s absence impossible to miss.
He sat out the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from surgery to address the Achilles injury he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Now he’s back, and Indiana can again be counted among the East’s title contenders. The New York Knicks, whom the Pacers beat in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, are coming off an NBA title win and will draw plenty of attention.
The Philadelphia 76ers have added Jaylen Brown and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James. The Boston Celtics remain in the mix as well.
TYRESE HALIBURTON WITH THE BUCKET 🔥
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 7, 2026
His first since June 22, 2025.
pic.twitter.com/oMFfeYABqo
The Pacers open the season Oct. 21 against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
In Other News...
Pacers Rookie Braden Smith Drew A Strange Reaction In His Debut
The Pacers preseason win over the Timberwolves at Hilton Coliseum came with an odd little subplot for rookie guard Braden Smith, who heard boos from the crowd during his first NBA preseason appearance. For a player making his debut in a game Indiana controlled, it was a strange welcome, one that caught both Rick Carlisle and Tyrese Haliburton off guard as they watched the reaction unfold.
Smith didnt seem bothered by it afterward, saying he enjoyed the competitive atmosphere and appeared to handle the moment well on the floor. For Indiana, the bigger takeaway was that the rookie held his own in a spirited setting, even if the reception around him made the night feel a little more unusual than a typical preseason opener. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburtons Return Gives Pacers Fans A New Opening Night Focus
Tyrese Haliburtons preseason return gave Pacers fans a fresh reason to tune in, and it came in a setting with a little extra meaning. He was back on the floor for Indiana after more than a year spent recovering from an Achilles injury, and the game at Hilton Coliseum added a familiar backdrop for the former college guard as he eased back into action against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Haliburton still looked like the center of attention the moment he checked in, and he even scored Indianas first points of the night. The Pacers are taking a careful approach as he rebuilds strength and gets his rhythm back, so the bigger storyline now is not just that he returned, but how the team handles his minutes from here with opening night drawing closer. [Read more 🡒]
Jarace Walker May Be Solving A Pacers Problem Fast
The Pacers opened preseason by beating the Timberwolves, and one of the biggest takeaways had little to do with the final score. Jarace Walker looked like a player with a much larger role in mind, handling the ball enough to lead Indiana in assists, plus-minus and minutes while helping steady the offense in a game that offered an early look at how he might fit into the rotation.
For a team that can use more playmaking and help on the glass, that kind of night matters. Walkers line was notable for the control it showed, and it also came with a reminder of how different he looked from last season, when his path was far less clear. If this is the beginning of a real push for a bigger spot, the Pacers may have found a quick answer to one of their more interesting roster questions. [Read more 🡒]