Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton made his long-awaited NBA return on October 7, suiting up for a 123-112 preseason victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The game at Iowa State's Hilton Coliseum was his first official action in 472 days, a comeback made more special by his personal gesture to the student body. Haliburton purchased every ticket in both student sections to ensure current Cyclones could witness his return from a devastating Achilles injury.
Haliburton wanted his comeback to feel like a true homecoming. So he bought out the student sections at both ends of the arena. Iowa State's director of basketball operations, Micah Byars, confirmed the move. The school then distributed the tickets via a lottery that saw immediate, overwhelming demand.
"I know there's nobody as passionate about Iowa State as the current students," Haliburton told reporters. "So I'm excited for them to be there and just experience all that." He played two seasons for the Cyclones from 2018 to 2020. The Pacers star even stated his preference for the college atmosphere, calling it "much better than the NBA from top to bottom."
Haliburton's last NBA appearance ended brutally. He tore his right Achilles tendon just seven minutes into Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 22, 2025. The diagnosis the next day wiped out his entire 2025-26 season. This preseason game in Ames was originally scheduled for a year earlier but was postponed due to his rehab.
He cleared an initial hurdle at the Pacers' FanJam scrimmage on October 4. But the October 7 preseason contest against another team marked the real milestone. Returning to the floor where his career took off added a powerful layer to the night. The Pacers' official preview labeled it as his return after 16 months away.
The focus now shifts to building rhythm for the regular season. Haliburton's successful return in a winning effort is a massive boost for team morale. The Pacers secured the 123-112 preseason win, providing a positive start to their exhibition slate.
Their next test is another preseason matchup at home against the Atlanta Hawks on October 10. Monitoring Haliburton's minutes and integration will be a key storyline. Fans can track the team's preparation and upcoming schedule on our schedule page. The ultimate goal is having their franchise point guard at full strength when the games start to count.
