The Pacers comeback story begins
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After months of assuring fans that he'd be ready, Tyrese Haliburton is set to return Wednesday in the Pacers' preseason opener.
Why it matters: The Pacers went from the Finals to the worst record in franchise history and are counting on a healthy Haliburton to lead them back into contention.
What they're saying: Haliburton declared himself "100%" healthy with "no restrictions" at media day Sept. 28, and following Sunday's FanJam scrimmage at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, he said it was the first time he left the court and his body "felt good."
- "I'm so glad to be back," Haliburton said after FanJam. "I know a lot of people are excited for me to be back and I think there's a lot of excitement throughout the whole city for our team and our group."
- His first preseason game comes 472 days after his Achilles injury in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
Between the lines: Head coach Rick Carlisle wants a reset. He said during media day that Indiana needs to "reclaim our position as a competitive team" after last season's 19-63 finish, stressing that success depends on the ecosystem around Haliburton.
- GM Chad Buchanan said the organization hopes to know after 25-30 games whether the group is clicking, while acknowledging it will be patient.
Zoom in: That wait-and-see approach is partly because players like Ivica Zubac, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Larry Nance Jr. are being integrated into a core that has barely played together at full strength.
- Carlisle has emphasized defense as the team's constant, as well as fitting Zubac into an offense built around pace and ball movement.
- Zubac played just 118 minutes for Indiana last season, and none of those were alongside Haliburton or Pascal Siakam.
- "We're just starting our connection, but I'm really enjoying playing alongside him for the first week or whatever, and I'm looking forward to playing against other teams here soon," Haliburton said Sunday when discussing finding chemistry with his new starting center.
Plus: Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith round out the starting five, and rookie Braden Smith gives Indiana a homegrown new face off the bench in the backcourt.
Zoom out: The East now includes the defending-champion Knicks, the 60-win Pistons, 52-win Cavaliers and the LeBron-led 76ers among the teams standing in the Pacers' way.
- NBA.com ranks Indiana No. 7 in the East entering the season, up from No. 14 last year.
What's next: Tipoff is at 7pm ET at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, the home court of Haliburton's alma mater, Iowa State.
- The Pacers then host Atlanta on Saturday, travel to Oklahoma City on Oct. 13 and close the preseason with a rematch against the Bucks in Gainbridge on Oct. 16.
- The regular season tips off Oct. 21 in New Orleans. Indiana's home opener is Oct. 23 against Dallas.