---
title: "Triumphant Return: Tyrese Haliburton Leads Pacers to Victory After Injury"
description: "Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton returned after 16 months out with an Achilles tear and led the Pacers to victory over New Orleans with 23 points and 12 assists."
date: 2026-10-22T18:03:28.491Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/tyrese-haliburton-returns-and-leads-pacers-to-victory
tags: [nba, indiana-pacers, tyrese-haliburton, basketball, sports-news]
author: "Inna Kinsheva"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Triumphant Return: Tyrese Haliburton Leads Pacers to Victory After Injury

![An emotional Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton joyfully celebrates victory after his long-awaited return to the court](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/22/tayriz-haliberton-vernulsya-i-prines-pobedu-indiane/tayriz-haliberton-vernulsya-i-prines-pobedu-indiane-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Tyrese Haliburton returned to the court after 16 months out due to an Achilles injury.
- In the season opener against New Orleans, he scored 23 points and provided 12 assists.
- The guard scored 13 points in the final quarter to seal the victory.
- The basketball player broke down in tears during his postgame on-court interview.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton delivered an emotional and productive performance in the regular-season NBA matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, marking his return to the court after more than 16 months of recovery. The game ended in a victory for Indiana, with the basketball star recording 23 points and 12 assists.

### Long-Awaited Return to the Court

Tyrese Haliburton had not played in official games since June 2025, when he suffered a severe right Achilles tendon tear in Game 7 of the NBA Finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Due to this injury, the star guard missed the entire 2025/26 season while undergoing rigorous rehabilitation. Returning in the season opener became a milestone event for the athlete and the entire team, sparking immense emotion at the arena.

### Decisive Contribution in the Clutch

Throughout the game, Haliburton demonstrated a high level of preparedness, but his performance in the final quarter proved pivotal as he scored 13 points. With the score tied at 116-116, the guard made a driving layup past Trey Murphy to give the Pacers the lead. In the next offensive sequence, he beat one of the Pelicans' top defenders, Herb Jones, scoring with a foul to secure a decisive advantage for his team.

### Tears of Joy After the Final Buzzer

Following the game, the basketball player could not hold back his tears during an on-court interview, admitting that the road to recovery felt endlessly long. He specifically thanked the Indiana fans for their incredible support throughout his rehabilitation period. Maintaining the lead until the final buzzer allowed the Pacers to successfully start the new National Basketball Association season.

### Significance of the Triumphant Comeback

Haliburton's return at such a high level demonstrates not only his exceptional physical and playing condition but also his mental resilience following a severe Achilles injury. A successful season start with a bright victory sets a positive tone for the entire Indiana franchise and reaffirms the guard's status as a key star capable of deciding tight matchups in the most crucial moments.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Звезда НБА вернулся после 16 месяцев вне паркета и принес "Индиане" победу](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/basketball/zirka-nba-povernuvsya-pislya-16-misyatsiv-1792691871.html) - Primary source Sport RBC.UA confirms the match details, Haliburton's stats, and his post-game quotes.

## FAQ

### What injury kept Tyrese Haliburton sidelined?

Haliburton missed over 16 months due to a right Achilles tendon tear suffered in June 2025.

### How many points did Haliburton score against New Orleans?

In the winning game against the New Orleans Pelicans, the guard recorded 23 points and 12 assists.

### How did Haliburton perform in the clutch?

In the final quarter, he scored 13 points, including a decisive drive and a three-play conversion with a foul to secure the win.