Haliburton 'shocked' opener not on national TV
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- Tyrese Haliburton said he was 'shocked' to learn his first regular-season game back from a torn Achilles tendon would not be nationally televised, sharing his reaction during an appearance on the 'Numbers on The Board' podcast.
- Haliburton tore his Achilles during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals and sat out the entire 2025-26 season, a 16-month absence before his scheduled return.
- The Indiana Pacers open the 2026-27 regular season on Oct. 21 at the New Orleans Pelicans, a road game with no national TV broadcast.
- The NBA's two national TV games on Oct. 21 are the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors at the Los Angeles Lakers.
- The Pacers make their home debut Oct. 23 against the Dallas Mavericks and don't appear on national television until Oct. 28, when they host the Philadelphia 76ers.
Why it matters: After a 16-month rehab from a torn Achilles, Haliburton's regular-season return lands Oct. 21 at New Orleans—off national TV—while Warriors-Lakers and Wolves-Heat take the league's marquee slots that same night. The Pacers don't reach a national broadcast until Oct. 28, hosting Philadelphia.
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