Indiana reclaims its star: Haliburton shines in his return after 16 months of waiting

Tyrese Haliburton returned to play an official NBA game more than a year after suffering a rupture of his right Achilles tendon and celebrated his return with a decisive performance for the Indiana Pacers. The point guard scored 23 points, dished out 12 assists, and recorded 16 points in the fourth quarter to lead his team to a 123-120 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in the season opener.

The return of the two-time All-Star was marked by emotion. Haliburton thought the tears would come on Friday, during the Pacers' first game in front of their fans, but he couldn't hold them back on Wednesday night when he watched from the court as Indiana fans celebrated his return at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

“The best part was the end, that moment,” Haliburton told Andscape after the victory. “It's been a rollercoaster of emotions. Honestly, what made me feel this way was seeing all those Pacers fans here in New Orleans. It was something special.”

The point guard had not played a game since June 22, 2025, when he ruptured his right Achilles tendon during Game 7 of the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who would go on to win the NBA championship. His absence affected a Pacers team that had gone from being Eastern Conference champions to finishing the next season with a record of 19 wins and 63 losses.

Haliburton shines in the fourth quarter after a tough start

The return was not easy from a physical standpoint. Haliburton acknowledged that he ended up exhausted and needed time to find his rhythm during a game in which he alternated between good moments and periods without scoring. His first basket came with a moving shot from about 1.2 meters that cut New Orleans' initial lead to 10-8.

The point guard scored seven points in the first quarter but went scoreless in the second. He went into halftime with three baskets on eight attempts, including one made from five three-point shots, along with six assists in 17 minutes and 42 seconds on the court.

While Haliburton was trying to regain his touch, Zion Williamson took over the offensive duties for the Pelicans. The interior player scored 15 of his 22 total points before halftime and closed out the first half with a buzzer-beater three-pointer that left Indiana ten points behind with a score of 66-56.

“It felt good. It felt really good,” Haliburton explained about his first basket. “I think the preseason prepared me for this: not forcing things and letting the game come to me. I try to play the right way, and I managed to get a layup that opened up the path for me.”

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The third quarter did not allow him to score either, but the point guard saved his best version for the decisive period. With 9:31 left, he drew a foul while attempting to complete a dunk. Haliburton lay on the floor under the basket while his teammates celebrated the play enthusiastically from both the court and the bench.

Shortly after, a three-point play cut Indiana's deficit to 101-98 with 7:41 remaining. A previous assist from the point guard also contributed to a alley-oop finished by Ivica Zubac, bringing the score to 101-100 with 7:08 left to play.

Haliburton's intensity grew during that stretch. At one point in the game, he exchanged words with Derik Queen, an interior player for New Orleans. After reviewing the action, the referees called a technical foul on the Pacers' point guard.

“I didn’t say anything. I want my money back for that technical foul!” Haliburton joked with a smile.

The Pacers complete the comeback and hold on until the end

Indiana found a way to regain control of the scoreboard in the final minutes. While Haliburton rested on the bench, Andrew Nembhard made a layup that put the Pacers ahead, 106-104, with 5:38 remaining.

Haliburton and Pascal Siakam returned to the court with 4:14 left, just as Williamson converted two free throws to tie the game. From there, the point guard made a difference again. A fast-break layup gave Indiana a 118-116 lead two minutes from the end, before another three-point play extended the lead to 121-118 with 1:23 to play.

The conclusion still had moments of uncertainty. About 20 seconds from the end, Nembhard decided not to pass the ball to Haliburton for a possible game-winning shot. About six seconds later, Nembhard himself committed a traveling violation that offered the Pelicans one last opportunity.

New Orleans had several chances to change the outcome but missed three three-point attempts in the remaining seconds. Indiana held on and secured the victory at 123-120 on a night that centered around the return of their point guard and his offensive production in the fourth quarter as the main reasons to celebrate.

Haliburton's recovery still requires patience

Despite his great performance, Haliburton did not hide the fact that he still needs to improve his physical condition. The player acknowledged that he was very tired for much of the game and that he still needs time to return to his best form after such a demanding injury.

In that process, the Pacers' point guard found a reference in Dejounte Murray, a Pelicans player who also suffered a rupture of his right Achilles tendon, in his case on January 31, 2025. Haliburton highlighted his role as a mentor and explained that he once asked him during a game what he should do to regain better physical condition after a similar injury.

Murray's experience has served as support during a rehabilitation that has kept Haliburton away from competition since the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals. His return against New Orleans demonstrates that he can still influence the game, although the player himself is aware that he needs to gradually regain rhythm and endurance.

“It’s the first game. The positive thing is that we now have video material for the coaching staff to analyze. I will be grateful for that and I’ll prepare for Friday [against Dallas],” Haliburton commented.

The victory marks a hopeful start for Indiana and an important first step for their star. Haliburton returned to compete, found his best basketball when his team needed it most, and ended up being decisive in a close victory. The emotion of his return also made clear the personal significance of a night he had long been waiting for.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Indiana recupera a su estrella: Haliburton brilla en su regreso tras 16 meses de espera