Tyrese Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers’ star point guard, just led his team to a 123-120 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in his first game back since tearing his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2024-25 NBA Finals. Talk about a comeback for the ages, right?
Hali’s Back, And So Is That Pacers Offense
Forget any rust, seriously. Haliburton didn’t just play, he *dominated* the game. The guy threw down 23 points, pulled in 2 rebounds, and dished out a ridiculous 12 assists, plus a steal. That’s the kind of performance you expect from an All-Star mid-season, not someone fresh off an Achilles tear. He was running that offense like he never left, showing off exactly why he’s such a game-changer. Remember that run to the NBA Finals two seasons ago? That playmaking, that pace, that depth? It’s all there, and with Haliburton back, the Pacers are a straight-up threat to every team out there. Pascal Siakam wasn’t slacking either, dropping 30 points and 8 boards, while Ivica Zubac cleaned up with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Obi Toppin added 20 points, too. This team is *deep*.
Pelicans Can’t Catch A Break, Even With Zion Healthy
Man, you gotta feel for New Orleans fans a little bit. Their team battled, leading by as many as 12 points early in the second half, but still couldn’t close it out. They were out-rebounding the Pacers by a 50-42 margin, even snagging 15 offensive boards. They got to the free throw line a whopping 37 times and converted them into 34 points. And get this: seven different Pelicans players hit double-digit scoring! Dejounte Murray put up 23 points and 7 assists, and Zion Williamson looked healthy, which is HUGE for them. Zion himself had 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Trey Murphy III chipped in 11, and Derik Queen added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Despite all that firepower, all that work on the glass, all those trips to the charity stripe, they still took the L. That’s a tough one to swallow.
With Haliburton back, the Pacers’ playmaking and pace are going to be a nightmare for opponents if they can stay healthy. This game showed exactly what they’re capable of when their star is on the floor. For New Orleans, seeing Zion healthy is critical, but they’ve got to find a way to turn those strong performances into wins if they want to make some noise this season. That loss, despite all their efforts, is going to sting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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