Tyrese Haliburton returns after 472 days as Pacers beat Timberwolves 123-112 in preseason opener
Haliburton played 16 minutes in his first NBA game since his 2025 Achilles tear, as the Rockets and Mavericks head to Macao for the NBA China Games.
Tyrese Haliburton is playing basketball again. On Wednesday, the Indiana Pacers guard played his first NBA game in 472 days and helped Indiana beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 123-112 in their preseason opener. The game was at James H. Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, where Haliburton played his college basketball.
Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon in the 2025 NBA Finals and missed the whole of last season. Indiana kept his minutes low, but he did plenty of the things the Pacers have missed.
Haliburton eases back in
Haliburton played 16 minutes. He scored 7 points on 3-of-8 shooting and had 6 assists, 2 blocks and a steal, with only one turnover. His first shot of the night was a mid-range jumper. Soon afterwards he threw a skip pass across the floor to Aaron Nesmith for a corner three. He also helped force a 24-second shot-clock violation on defence.
The strongest stretch of the game came from a small lineup of Obi Toppin, Pascal Siakam, Jarace Walker, Oubre and Andrew Nembhard, which went on a 15-0 run. Walker led the team with 10 assists and finished +18 in 28 minutes. Indiana were without guard Ben McConnell, who is injured.
Tuesday's preseason results
The preseason picked up speed on Tuesday. Golden State beat the Los Angeles Lakers 124-98 on a night when the Warriors honoured their late former coach Don Nelson. Yaxel Lendeborg had 17 points and 9 rebounds for the Warriors, and Steph Curry added 16 points and 5 assists.
Denver beat Utah 117-106. Darryn Peterson led all scorers with 23 points, and Aaron Gordon had 18 for the Nuggets. Brooklyn beat Charlotte 124-90, with Michael Porter Jr. scoring 16 and Julius Randle making 13 in his first game for the Nets. New Orleans came back from 24 points down to beat Oklahoma City 116-110, and Bennedict Mathurin led the Pelicans with 13 points.
There was bad news in Philadelphia. Sixers centre Ariel Hukporti tore his right Achilles in the preseason game against the Knicks and needs surgery. In Charlotte, Hornets guard Coby White will miss the rest of the preseason with a calf strain.
NBA comes to Macao this weekend
The NBA is coming closer to Malaysian fans this weekend. The Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks play two preseason games at The Venetian Arena in Macao as part of the NBA China Games 2026. The games are on Friday, 9 October, and Sunday, 11 October.
Kevin Durant's Rockets face Cooper Flagg's Mavericks. Tip-off is 8am ET on Friday and 6am ET on Sunday, which is 8pm on Friday and 6pm on Sunday in Malaysia. Macao is in the same time zone as Malaysia. The NBA says the games will be shown in more than 200 countries and territories. Houston drafted Yao Ming first overall in 2002 and has a long history with fans in the region.
The NBA regular season starts later this month.
Key takeaways
- Tyrese Haliburton played 16 minutes in his first game in 472 days, finishing with 7 points and 6 assists as Indiana beat Minnesota 123-112.
- A small-ball Pacers lineup went on a 15-0 run, and Jarace Walker had 10 assists.
- On Tuesday, Golden State beat the Lakers 124-98 and New Orleans came back from 24 down to beat Oklahoma City.
- The Rockets and Mavericks play in Macao on 9 and 11 October, at 8pm and 6pm Malaysia time.
FAQ
Why did Tyrese Haliburton miss last season? He tore his Achilles tendon during the 2025 NBA Finals. Wednesday's preseason game was his first NBA appearance in 472 days.
When are the NBA China Games 2026 in Macao? The Rockets and Mavericks play at The Venetian Arena on Friday, 9 October, and Sunday, 11 October.
What time are the Macao games in Malaysia? Friday's game tips off at 8pm and Sunday's at 6pm Malaysia time. Macao and Malaysia are both on UTC+8.
Sources: NBA.com, Sports Illustrated, Sands China