kcci
Tyrese Haliburton stepped onto the court at Hilton Coliseum and was met with a deafening ovation from the Iowa State student section, marking a heartfelt homecoming for the former Cyclone star.
In the first NBA preseason contest held at Iowa State's basketball arena since 2018, Haliburton's Indiana Pacers emerged victorious over the Minnesota Timberwolves, 123-112, on Wednesday night.
The near-capacity crowd of approximately 14,000 fans was treated to an exciting start: Timberwolves standout Anthony Edwards drilled a three-pointer to open the scoring, and Haliburton answered right back with a pull-up jumper on the Pacers' next possession.
Haliburton logged 16 minutes of play, contributing seven points, six assists, and two blocks. He did not play in the second half.
This game marked Haliburton's first competitive action since he sustained an injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals in June 2025.
For a complete recap, watch the video above.
Originally reported by kcci.