Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton moved to tears following first game back from Achilles tear — SkimNews
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- Tyrese Haliburton returned to game action for the first time in 486 days after tearing his Achilles in the 2025 NBA Finals, playing 34 minutes in Indiana’s season opener against the Pelicans
- Tyrese Haliburton scored 23 points and dished out 12 assists, including a go-ahead three-point play with 1:25 left, helping the Pacers overcome a 10-point deficit to win 123-120
- Tyrese Haliburton broke down emotionally in a postgame interview, saying 'It means a lot to be back out here' and expressing gratitude for his return to the court
- Indiana Pacers improved to 1-0 to open the season, a sharp contrast from their 19-63 record last year when Haliburton missed the entire season due to injury
- Zion Williamson and Jeremiah Fears each missed critical shots in the final minute that could have tied the game for the Pelicans
Why it matters: The Pacers went from a 19-win team to title contenders overnight with Haliburton’s return, whose 16 fourth-quarter points directly swung a close game—proving his presence transforms Indiana’s ceiling in a loaded Eastern Conference.
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