Tyrese Haliburton is back on the floor, and Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault says that matters far beyond Tuesday night’s preseason matchup.
Haliburton, who tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals with under five minutes left in the first quarter, missed the entire 2025-26 season before returning in Indiana’s preseason opener on Oct. 7. That also brings him to Oklahoma City for the first time since the injury, and Daigneault made clear he was glad to see it.
“Certainly happy for him,” Daigneault said, via Clemente Almanza. “Those injuries are devastating when they just are that long-term for anybody.
You know, we've had guys that have endured that, and you can gain an appreciation for all the dark days you have to go through where there's seemingly no progress, and it takes a long time. And so, hat tip to him for getting himself back, and it's hard to think back on that series without thinking back to the whole run; that run that they had in the playoffs was incredible.”
Mark Daigneault on Tyrese Haliburton being back in OKC for the first time since the 2025 NBA Finals: “It’s hard to think back on that series without thinking back to the whole run. That run that they had in that playoffs was incredible.” pic.twitter.com/8KauIur0hY
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 13, 2026
Daigneault also pointed to what Haliburton meant to Indiana during that postseason surge.
“They were, I think, a four seed and really got on a heater in the playoffs, and he was driving that,” Daigneault continued. “You know, both his individual offense and what he does to activate his teammates with the advanced passing and the early passing puts everybody at an advantage, and so great player, and certainly happy to see him back.”
The Pacers and Thunder meet in a preseason game Tuesday night.
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LeBron Just Put All The Pressure On Tyrese Haliburtons Return
LeBron James has already added a fresh layer of intrigue to Indianas outlook by pointing to the Pacers comeback potential and tying it directly to Tyrese Haliburtons health. For a team that has built so much of its identity around Haliburtons playmaking and feel for the game, the timing matters as much as anything else. His recent return to five-on-five work after an Achilles injury is a notable step, and it has naturally revived bigger questions about where the Pacers can go once he is fully back.
Haliburtons importance goes beyond the box score because so much of Indianas offense runs through his decision-making and pace. The Pacers have other pieces expected to help them push back toward contender status, but the conversation keeps circling back to the guard who changes the ceiling when he is right. LeBrons comments only sharpened that reality, turning Haliburtons comeback into more than a routine injury update and into a central part of the Pacers larger hopes. [Read more 🡒]
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The bigger picture is just as encouraging for Indiana because Zubac does not have to be the focal point to matter. His game is versatile enough to fit alongside the Pacers core pieces, and his ability to operate as a third option gives the offense another layer without forcing touches. If this early stretch is any indication, one of the teams biggest concerns is being addressed quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburton Gave Pacers Fans An Early Reason To Believe
Tyrese Haliburton was back in the lineup for the Pacers third preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he wasted little time giving Indiana something to build on. In a 114-112 overtime loss, Haliburton looked sharp offensively, finishing with 24 points on 9-for-14 shooting while adding three assists, three rebounds and two blocks after sitting out the previous game.
For a preseason game that ended in a narrow defeat, the bigger takeaway for Indiana was the way Haliburton looked running the show again. The Pacers also got a strong night from Ivica Zubac, who posted 13 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and three steals in just 18 minutes, but Haliburtons return was the clearest sign the team can start imagining what its offense might look like once the games count. [Read more 🡒]