Tyrese Haliburton Leads Pacers to 123-120 Win Over Pelicans in Return From Achilles Tear

Tyrese Haliburton recorded 23 points and 12 assists in his first game since June 2025 as the Pacers defeated the Pelicans 123-120.

Tyrese Haliburton recorded 23 points and 12 assists in 33 minutes to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 123-120 season-opening victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 30 points for Indiana, while Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 22 points, including 15 in the first half. The win marked Haliburton's first appearance since tearing his Achilles tendon on June 22, 2025, during Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Haliburton scored 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, including a running lay-in with two minutes remaining that gave Indiana a 118-116 lead. He added a three-point play with 1:23 left to extend the margin to 121-118. Despite a late travel by Andrew Nembhard with six seconds remaining, the Pelicans missed three potential game-tying three-pointers in the final seconds. Nembhard previously gave the Pacers a 106-104 lead on a layup with 5:38 left in the game.

During the first half, Haliburton struggled with his shot, finishing the second quarter with seven points on 3-of-8 shooting and missing four of his five three-point attempts. The Pacers trailed 66-56 at halftime following a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Williamson. The game also featured a technical foul against Haliburton following a verbal exchange with New Orleans big man Derik Queen in the fourth quarter.

Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle noted that the contest was the first time Haliburton played over 30 minutes in 16.5 months. The Pacers finished the previous season with a 19-63 record while Haliburton was sidelined. The team next faces the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.