After nearly 16 months of rehabbing a torn Achilles, former Iowa State star Tyrese Haliburton finally returned to an NBA regular-season game Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers tipped off their 2026-27 regular season Wednesday night with a 123-120 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The 26-year-old finished with 23 points, 12 assists and two rebounds in 34 minutes.

Locked in for most of the contest, the magnitude of the moment seemed to sink in for Haliburton during his postgame interview with Pacers TV host and sideline reporter Jeremiah Johnson.

"It means a lot to be back out here," Haliburton said, becoming visibly emotional. "I'm just really thankful."

Haliburton makes triumphant return from Achilles injury

The 26-year-old missed the entire 2025-26 NBA season after tearing his right Achilles tendon during Indiana's Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. During his absence, the depleted Pacers failed to make the postseason for the first time since the 2022-23 season and finished with a 19-63 record, the worst in franchise history.

"[Haliburton] made huge plays throughout the game, but particularly down the stretch," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told reporters after the game against the Pelicans. "That kind of competitive presence, leadership and belief is something that just bleeds out to everyone."

Wednesday's victory was also the Pacers' first in New Orleans since Jan. 4, 2021.

"I didn't think I was going to cry [tonight]. I really didn't," Haliburton said. "But I think it all just hit me kind of there when talking to Jeremiah and seeing all those Pacer fans in the arena. We haven't won here in five years or whatever, and to see all those Pacer fans here in New Orleans for this, it means a lot to me."

The two-time NBA All-Star is in his seventh professional season and has averaged 17.6 points, 8.9 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game over his career.

Ahead of the regular season, he returned to Hilton Coliseum in Ames for an exhibition game between the Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 7