Tyrese Haliburton Returns to the Court After 500 Days

It had been nearly 500 days since Tyrese Haliburton, the talented guard for the Pacers, played in a regular-season NBA game. On Wednesday, he made a much-anticipated comeback, scoring 23 points and leading the Indiana Pacers to a 123-120 win against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Haliburton missed the entire 2025-26 season while rehabbing from a torn Achilles tendon he sustained during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, which the Oklahoma City Thunder ultimately won.

In a postgame interview on the court, Haliburton’s reflections on his journey back were deeply emotional.

Haliburton’s Emotional Return

When asked about his performance in the inaugural game of the season and the joy of being back on the court with his teammates, Haliburton became noticeably moved.

“It means a lot to be back out here,” he said, trying to hold back tears. He went on to discuss the areas needing improvement, especially mentioning that the second quarter didn’t go well, but expressed pride in how the team fought to finish the game strong. “Just really proud of this group,” he added, emphasizing his gratitude for being able to play again.

Haliburton played clutch minutes down the stretch, making critical plays that helped the Pacers get the lead after trailing by as much as ten points. Impressively, he scored 16 of his 23 points in the final quarter alone.

Pacers Looking Forward

Without Haliburton last season, the Pacers struggled, finishing with just 19 wins, a stark contrast to their close miss at the championship the year prior. With him back, the team is hopeful about their chances in a tough Eastern Conference. They are set to host the Dallas Mavericks for their home opener on Friday.