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For 472 days, the last image of Tyrese Haliburton on a basketball court was a man going down in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
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On Wednesday night, that finally changed. Haliburton returned to action in the Pacers’ preseason opener, a 123-112 win over the Timberwolves at Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum.
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The setting was no accident. Haliburton spent two seasons at Iowa State, and Field House Files reported that a crowd of 13,952 packed the building. He also wore a custom No. 22 Pacers jersey, his old college number, when he was introduced.
Yardbarker added that he bought every student-section ticket, which put about 2,500 students in the arena.
Stat Line Was Modest But Moment Was Not
Haliburton played 16 minutes and finished with seven points, six assists, two blocks and a steal, shooting 3-for-8, according to Yahoo Sports.
He scored the Pacers’ first points of the night. Afterward, he admitted adrenaline had him moving faster than he wanted, and Yahoo said he called the past stretch “16 months from hell.”
Before tip-off, he took the microphone and told the crowd, “It’s been 472 days since I played a game of basketball.”
Minnesota Had Good Night, Still Lost
Anthony Edwards scored 19 points in the first half, and LaMelo Ball added 14 points and seven assists, per NBA.com.
The Star Tribune noted that Edwards’ points all came before halftime. Indiana pulled away late with its bench, and SI’s Pacers site gave special credit to Jarace Walker’s 10 assists.
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Why Haliburton’s health decides the Pacers’ season
The stakes go far beyond a preseason win. Axios reported that Indiana went 19-63 last season, the worst record in franchise history, a stunning fall from the Finals.
Coach Rick Carlisle said at media day that the team needs to reclaim its position as a competitive team, and that success depends on the group around Haliburton.
That group includes a new pick-and-roll partner in Ivica Zubac. Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard remain core pieces, and the East is much tougher now.
Axios listed the defending-champion Knicks, 60-win Pistons and the LeBron-led 76ers among the obstacles.
What to watch before the Pacers’ opener at New Orleans
Indiana has three preseason games left, with Atlanta at home Saturday and a trip to Oklahoma City on Oct. 13.
Expect the team to ease Haliburton in, as ESPN’s reporting suggested earlier this fall.
My view: sixteen minutes proves he’s moving well, not that he’s back to All-NBA form. Achilles recoveries can show up months later in explosiveness and lateral quickness.
Still, nobody doubted his passing or instincts. The Pacers got their leader back, and that alone changes the East.
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This story was originally published October 11, 2026 at 5:03 AM.