The atmosphere at the Smoothie King Center proved to be an emotional backdrop for the point guard, who was visibly moved by the presence of travelling Pacers supporters. Despite admitting to fatigue throughout the contest, Haliburton logged 33 minutes, recording 23 points and 12 assists. His impact was most pronounced in the final period, where he accounted for 16 of his points to help Indiana overcome a halftime deficit.
A Decisive Fourth-Quarter Surge
After a quiet third quarter, Haliburton ignited the Pacers' offense in the final frame. He sparked a critical run with a series of aggressive plays, including a three-point play with 7:41 remaining that narrowed the gap to 101-98. His playmaking remained sharp as well, setting up teammate Ivica Zubac for a pivotal alley-oop dunk shortly thereafter. Despite receiving a technical foul following a heated exchange with New Orleans big man Derik Queen, Haliburton maintained his composure to close out the game.
The closing minutes saw a back-and-forth battle between the two sides. A running lay-in from Haliburton with two minutes left gave Indiana a 118-116 lead, followed by another three-point play that extended the advantage to 121-118 with 83 seconds on the clock. While a late turnover by Andrew Nembhard provided the Pelicans with a final opportunity, New Orleans failed to convert on three consecutive three-point attempts, allowing the Pacers to escape with the win.
Support and Recovery Context
The victory served as a significant milestone for Haliburton, who had not played more than 30 minutes in over 16 months. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle praised the guard's performance, noting the physical demands of his return. Teammate
Haliburton credited Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray, who also recovered from an Achilles injury earlier this year, for providing guidance on conditioning during the rehabilitation process. Surrounded by family, friends, and his wife, Jade, the emotional weight of the evening was evident. The Pacers now look ahead to their home opener on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks, with Haliburton emphasizing the importance of using this opening win as a foundation for the season ahead.
