Tyrese Haliburton’s return to the NBA carried the kind of weight you could feel through the box score.
After nearly 16 months away while rehabbing a torn Achilles, the former Iowa State standout was back on an NBA regular-season floor Wednesday, Oct. 21, and he looked plenty ready for the moment. Haliburton helped the Indiana Pacers open their 2026-27 season with a 123-120 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, finishing with 23 points, 12 assists and two rebounds in 34 minutes.
The 26-year-old had been in control for much of the night, but the emotions of the comeback seemed to catch up with him afterward in his interview with Pacers TV host and sideline reporter Jeremiah Johnson.
"It means a lot to be back out here," Haliburton said, becoming visibly emotional. "I'm just really thankful."
Haliburton’s road back began after he tore his right Achilles tendon in Indiana’s Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. He missed the entire 2025-26 season, and the Pacers paid for it. Without him, Indiana stumbled to a 19-63 record, the worst mark in franchise history, and missed the postseason for the first time since the 2022-23 season.
Rick Carlisle said Haliburton’s impact went well beyond the numbers in the win over New Orleans.
"[Haliburton] made huge plays throughout the game, but particularly down the stretch," Carlisle told reporters after the game against the Pelicans. "That kind of competitive presence, leadership and belief is something that just bleeds out to everyone."
The victory also snapped an unusual drought for Indiana in New Orleans. Wednesday’s result was the Pacers’ first win there since Jan. 4, 2021.
Haliburton said the emotions hit him only after the game and the interview wrapped.
"I didn't think I was going to cry [tonight]. I really didn't," Haliburton said.
"But I think it all just hit me kind of there when talking to Jeremiah and seeing all those Pacer fans in the arena. We haven't won here in five years or whatever, and to see all those Pacer fans here in New Orleans for this, it means a lot to me."
Now in his seventh professional season, the two-time NBA All-Star has career averages of 17.6 points, 8.9 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
Indiana’s next five games are scheduled for Oct. 23 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 6 p.m.
CT; Oct. 25 at Brooklyn Nets, 5 p.m. CT; Oct. 26 at Milwaukee Bucks, 7 p.m.
CT; Oct. 28 vs. Philedelphia 76ers, 6 p.m.
CT, ESPN; and Oct. 30 at Miami Heat, 7 p.m. CT.
In Other News...
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Tyrese Haliburton's Return Comes With A Real Test For Indiana
Tyrese Haliburtons return to Indianapolis gives the Pacers home opener a very different kind of edge, with the crowd ready to welcome back the guard who meant so much to the franchise during the 2025 playoffs. Indiana will also be opening against a Dallas team that brings plenty of intrigue of its own, including Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg, so this will be more than a feel-good night for the building.
The Pacers are still working through point guard depth concerns with T.J. McConnell sidelined, which puts even more weight on how they manage the backcourt minutes and the defensive matchups. Against Dallas, those assignments matter from the jump, and Indianas ability to handle Irving while also keeping tabs on Flagg will go a long way toward determining whether the opener feels like a celebration or a stress test. [Read more 🡒]