Tyrese Haliburton Makes Emotional Return in Pacers' Win Over Pelicans

Tyrese Haliburton waited more than 16 months for this moment, and when it finally arrived, the emotions overwhelmed him. The Indiana Pacers star returned to the court in an official game for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. He did not settle for an emotional comeback, leading his team to a dramatic 120-123 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans with 23 points and 12 assists.

The Emotional Return

"It took forever to get to this moment," Haliburton said, wiping tears with a towel around his neck. "It's been, what, 16 or 17 months, and I just appreciate so much being here." Asked what made the moment so moving, he admitted that the presence of Pacers fans who traveled to New Orleans was particularly meaningful. "I didn't think I would cry. It just caught me when I was talking to Jeremiah and saw all the Pacers fans in the stands. It means the world to me and this organization."

"During the game there were moments where I struggled, I was tired and didn't play well. But then I stopped for a moment and told myself: 'I'm playing again, I'm back.'" — Tyrese Haliburton

Clutch Performance in the Fourth

Haliburton proved he could make an immediate impact from night one by scoring 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, orchestrating a crucial comeback. With less than three minutes remaining and the game tied at 116-116, he drove to the basket for a clutch score, later adding an and-one play against rookie Trey Murphy to secure a three-point lead.

Teammates and coaching staff shared the excitement of the comeback. Pascal Siakam finished with 30 points and praised the guard's performance, while head coach Rick Carlisle highlighted the significance of Haliburton playing over 30 minutes for the first time in 16 and a half months.