Haliburton Scores 23 in First Game in 486 Days as Pacers Edge Pelicans 123-120

The Indiana Pacers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-120 at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday night, and the score was only half the story. Tyrese Haliburton played his first game that counts in 486 days, finished with 23 points and 12 assists, and scored 13 points in the fourth quarter as Indiana outscored New Orleans 37-28 in the final period to erase a six point deficit.

A long road back

Haliburton tore his right Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against Oklahoma City. He missed all of last season while he recovered, and Indiana fell to 19-63 without him, the second worst record in the league. NBC Sports reported he was also diagnosed with shingles during the recovery. Before the game he said the return meant a lot to him. "It is special," he said. "I do not take basketball for granted. I do not take the opportunity to be healthy and be back on the floor doing what I love for granted." After the final buzzer he teared up on the DAZN broadcast. "It means a lot to be back out there," he said.

Siakam takes over late

Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 30 points, including 10 straight Pacers points in the fourth quarter. Siakam and Haliburton combined for 25 points in the fourth. Obi Toppin added 20 points off the bench, Andrew Nembhard had 18 points and nine assists, and Ivica Zubac scored 16 points. Indiana did it without Aaron Nesmith and T.J. McConnell, who both sat out with hamstring strains, the Indianapolis Star reported.

New Orleans led for much of the night. The Pelicans outscored Indiana 35-18 in the second quarter and led 66-56 at halftime, after Zion Williamson hit two three pointers in the final minute of the half. Williamson had made 1 of 4 three pointers in all of last season, Reuters noted. Dejounte Murray led New Orleans with 23 points and seven assists, Williamson scored 22, and Yves Missi had 13 points and 14 rebounds. Indiana led 38-31 after the first quarter, trailed 92-86 after the third, and then shot its way back in the fourth, making 67 percent of its shots in the period, according to the Star.

The final minute

Haliburton picked up a technical foul in the fourth quarter for taunting Derik Queen after Indiana closed to 101-100, and players from both teams moved in before the pair was separated. It did not slow Indiana down. Quentin Jackson hit two free throws to put the Pacers up 123-120 with 45.7 seconds left. Williamson missed a finger roll at the other end. New Orleans got one more chance when Nembhard was called for traveling, but Jeremiah Fears and Williamson both missed three pointers in the final seconds.

The home team had won the last 11 meetings between the two clubs. That streak is over, and Indiana starts 1-0 with its best player back on the floor.