After 16 months of brutal rehab, a ruptured Achilles, and a nasty bout of shingles, Tyrese Haliburton didn’t just step back on the court for the Indiana Pacers’ opening night against the New Orleans Pelicans; he delivered a game-winning bucket and unleashed 486 days of pure emotion. His first game of the 2026-27 NBA season ended in a nail-biting 123-120 victory, thanks to a moment of clutch brilliance that was 486 days in the making.
The Game-Winner That Rocked the Smoothie King Center
Picture this: game tied at 118, a minute and a half left on the clock in New Orleans. Haliburton, ball in hand, takes a screen from Pascal Siakam and stares down Zion Williamson at the three-point arc. He faked a right-hand dribble, crossed back left, and pushed off that surgically repaired right leg like it was never injured. He drove to the middle, absorbed contact from Williamson, and lofted an off-hand floater that rattled home, plus the foul. From the deck of the Smoothie King Center, the All-NBA point guard let out a roar, a visceral release of every single moment of frustration and agony he’d endured. That and-one free throw put the Pacers up by three with just 1:23 left. The Pelicans had two chances to tie it up, a three from Jeremiah Fears and another by Williamson, but neither found the net. Indiana secured the 123-120 win, and man, what a way to start the season.
From Slow Start to Fourth Quarter Fire
Haliburton’s return wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows from the jump. He missed seven of his first 11 field goal attempts through three quarters. But when the fourth quarter hit, something clicked. He exploded for 13 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting, turning the tide in a game the Pelicans had largely controlled. Time and again, when the Pacers needed a bucket, the ball went into Haliburton’s hands. He ran that two-man game with Siakam, forcing the Pelicans to try and stop their inside-out All-Star duo. They couldn’t. Haliburton wrapped up the night with 23 points on 8-for-15 shooting, adding 12 assists in 34 minutes of work. This wasn’t just any game; it was his 70th 20-point, 10-assist game as a Pacer, and his first since Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals. That’s a comeback stat, right there.
After sealing the win, the floodgates opened. In his walkoff interview with Pacers sideline reporter Jeremiah Johnson, Haliburton got choked up. “It means a lot to be back out here,” he said, tears streaming down his face as he struggled to find the words. The traveling Pacers faithful were there, offering their support. Later, after taking a moment in the locker room, he reflected on the raw emotion. According to Tony East of Circle City Spin, Haliburton admitted, “I don’t think there’s been a point where I , like, I’ve had moments in private, especially early, when it was hard. You know, I don’t know. I just thought that this moment would feel super emotional for m”
This is more than just an opening night win; it’s a statement. It’s Haliburton telling the league he’s back and ready to make up for lost time. The Pacers are off and running, and you just know he’s going to carry this momentum into the rest of the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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