Haliburton Returns After 472 Days in Pacers Preseason Win

Tyrese Haliburton returned to game action Wednesday, playing 16 minutes for the Indiana Pacers in a preseason win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Iowa State, his alma mater. It was his first appearance since tearing his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, an absence he described as 472 days. Haliburton finished with seven points, six assists, one steal and two blocks in Indiana’s 123-112 victory. He shot 3 for 8 from the field, including 1 for 3 from three-point range. The game marked a milestone in his recovery after he missed the 2025-26 season. The Pacers played at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, where Haliburton played college basketball. The return combined his first game back with a homecoming before Iowa State fans. According to a school basketball operations director cited in one report, Haliburton purchased tickets for students in both ends of the student section. After the game, Haliburton said the excitement and adrenaline of returning made him feel he needed to slow down. He described the night as meaningful because it took place at Iowa State, where he spent two seasons before entering the NBA.