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Tyrese Haliburton had long anticipated the Indiana Pacers' preseason clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder, a game he had marked on his calendar weeks in advance. The return to OKC carried deep personal significance, as it was the site of his devastating injury in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, where he ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the first quarter after hitting three 3-pointers in the opening seven minutes.
That injury forced Haliburton to miss the entire 2025-26 season. When the Pacers visited the Thunder in January, he chose to stay home, explaining to Amazon Prime reporter Taylor Rooks that he wasn't emotionally prepared to return to Oklahoma City yet. However, on Tuesday night, he delivered his best preseason showing, recording 24 points, three assists, and two blocks in just 18 minutes during Indiana's 114-112 overtime loss to the Thunder.
Reflecting on the experience, Haliburton told The Oklahoman, "I thought I would feel maybe a little more emotion coming in here. I don't know if it was sadness or scared or whatever. Once the ball jumped up, it felt just like normal and the shootaround felt like normal, so it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be."
Haliburton was efficient in the loss, shooting 9 of 14 from the field and connecting on four 3-pointers. This marked his second game back from the Achilles injury, following his return against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 7 in Ames, Iowa. He had missed Indiana's previous preseason matchup against the Hawks due to a mild ankle injury.
After 16 months of rehabilitation, even a preseason game held special meaning. "It was exciting to be back out on the floor, just trying to play the right way," Haliburton said. "It just feels good. I put a lot of work in. It's been a long 16 months, so it definitely feels good to see the fruits of your labor and I hope to keep growing on it."
Key Analysis
Haliburton's return to Oklahoma City symbolizes a significant mental hurdle overcome, given the traumatic nature of his injury at the same venue. His performance suggests he is regaining form and confidence, which bodes well for the Pacers as they approach the regular season. The team opens on Oct. 21 on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans, and Haliburton's progress will be crucial to their success.
Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @thejordancdavis. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tyrese Haliburton 'felt just like normal' in return to OKC for Pacers-Thunder game.
Originally reported by yahoo.