Marc J. SpearsOct 22, 2026, 12:49 AM ETCloseMultiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsNEW ORLEANS — Tyrese Haliburton believed that the first time he would truly get emotional in his long-awaited return from a torn Achilles tendon was during the Indiana Pacers’ home opener on Friday.That expectation was dashed Wednesday night, when the two-time All-Star broke into tears of joy when he peered into the Smoothie King Center crowd and saw Pacers fans celebrating his triumphant return.”The best part was the end and that moment,” Haliburton told ESPN Andscape after the Pacers’ 123-120 season-opening win over the New Orleans Pelicans. “It’s been an emotional rollercoaster. I’m telling you, what made me feel that way was seeing all those Pacers fans here in New Orleans.
That was special.”An admittedly gassed Haliburton scored 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and had 12 assists in 33 minutes as the Pacers held on. It was his first game since he tore his Achilles in a Game 7 loss to the 2025 NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on June 22, 2025. The injury-plagued Pacers went from Eastern Conference champions to a dismal 19-63 record last season without Haliburton.On this night, Haliburton was back to his old star self and so seemed the Pacers in a gritty win.”He looked great. I told him it would take some time to get back to his shape,” Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, who scored a game-high 30 points, told ESPN Andscape.
“His shape is amazing with the pace and everything we play like. But the first game back, I’m just happy for him to be back on the floor. I know how hard last (season) was for him.”Said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle: “Tyrese played extremely well. It’s the first time he played over 30 minutes in 16½ months.”Haliburton made his first shot of the season on a 4-foot runner that trimmed the Pelicans’ early lead to 10-8.
He scored seven points in the first quarter but didn’t score in the second and finished the first half with 7 points on 3-of-8 shooting, missing 4 of 5 3-point attempts. He also had six assists in 17:42.Pelicans forward Zion Williamson stole the first-half show with 15 of his 22 points that included a halftime buzzer-beating 3 that put Indiana behind 66-56.”It felt good. It felt really good,” Haliburton said of his first made basket. “I think preseason prepared me for that in terms of not pressing and letting it come to me.
I’m trying to play the right way and I got a layup that opened things up for me.”Haliburton also went scoreless in the third quarter. But with 9:31 left in the fourth, he drew a foul on a dunk. While he stoically enjoyed the moment lying under the basket, his teammates enthusiastically celebrated on the court and the bench.Haliburton added another three-point play with 7:41 remaining to cut New Orleans’ lead to 101-98. After a hockey assist from Haliburton led to an Ivica Zubac alley-oop dunk with 7:08 remaining, the Pacers cut the deficit to 101-100.Seconds later, a fired up Haliburton appeared to taunt New Orleans big man Derik Queen.
Both teams engaged in the trash talking and Haliburton was given a technical upon review.”I didn’t say anything. I want my money back for that technical,” Haliburton told ESPN Andscape with a smile.Haliburton admitted he was gassed much of the game and still needs to strengthen his conditioning. He credited Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray, who tore his right Achilles on Jan. 31, 2025, for being his biggest NBA mentor in helping him recover from his own Achilles injury. Haliburton even asked Murray in-game about the keys to getting better conditioned post-Achilles tear.With Haliburton out, the Pacers regained the lead 106-104 on a layup from Andrew Nembhard with 5:38 remaining.
A rested Haliburton and Siakam re-entered the game with 4:14 left as Williamson made two free throws to tie it. A running lay-in by Haliburton with 2 minutes remaining gave the Pacers a 118-116 lead. Another three-point play by him gave Indiana a 121-118 lead with 1:23 to go.With about 20 seconds left, Nembhard declined to pass for a possible game-sealing, headline-grabbing shot to Haliburton. Instead, Nembhard traveled about 6 seconds later to give the Pelicans late hope.
New Orleans, however, missed three 3-pointers in the remaining seconds as Haliburton and the Pacers held on.”It’s Game 1. What we appreciate about it is putting film on the coaches’ computers for us to watch. I will be thankful for that and prepare for Friday (against Dallas),” Haliburton said.Along with a number of Pacers fans in attendance, Haliburton was also supported by family, friends and business associates. His wife Jade, whom he married this past offseason, was in attendance and she hugged her emotional husband after the game.
His parents, John and Brenda Haliburton, and two brothers were there. Also in attendance were Haliburton’s agent Aaron Mintz, shooting coach Drew Hanlen, marketing representative Kristina Kozica and other friends.”My people flew out here. I think there was 12 people on the (private) plane,” Haliburton said. “My best friend, my brothers.
My parents. My wife. My trainer. Mostly everybody.
I think it was important for everybody to be there and they wanted to be there for me. It just means a lot.”
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