Haliburton Returns as Pacers Beat Pelicans in Opener

Tyrese Haliburton returned to regular-season action after an Achilles tear and helped the Indiana Pacers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-120 in their season opener in New Orleans on Wednesday, October 21. He scored 23 points and had 12 assists in 34 minutes, according to game coverage. It was Haliburton’s first regular-season game since he tore his right Achilles tendon during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The injury kept him out for the entire 2025-26 season. He had played in three preseason games before Wednesday’s opener. After the win, Haliburton became emotional during a postgame interview as he described returning to the court. He said it meant a lot to be back and that he was thankful to play again. The interview followed a game in which Indiana rallied to secure the victory. The Pacers trailed by as many as 12 points early in the second half, then came back. They recorded 29 assists, while New Orleans had seven players score in double figures. The Pelicans made 34 of 37 free throws and outrebounded Indiana 50-42, including 15 offensive rebounds, according to game coverage. Haliburton’s return also included a fourth-quarter confrontation with Pelicans rookie Derik...