Tyrese Haliburton Returns With 23 and 12 as Pacers Win Opener

Tyrese Haliburton’s long road back reached its biggest milestone Wednesday night. In his first regular-season game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Haliburton scored 23 points and handed out 12 assists as the Indiana Pacers edged the New Orleans Pelicans 123-120. The two-time All-Star had missed the entire 2025-26 season while recovering.

Indiana needed more than a ceremonial return. Trailing 92-86 entering the fourth quarter, Haliburton helped flip the game, scoring eight points during a 90-second stretch as the Pacers erased a New Orleans advantage. He then scored on consecutive possessions late after Zion Williamson tied the game at 116. Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 30 points, including 12 in the fourth, while Haliburton scored 13 of his 23 in the final period.

The comeback matters because Indiana spent last season without the player who had driven its Finals run. Haliburton had already returned to game action during the preseason, but Wednesday was the first result that counted—and he looked comfortable handling winning-time possessions. One game cannot answer every question after a major Achilles injury, but 23 points, 12 assists and a road victory are about as encouraging an official return as Indiana could have requested.