Haliburton returns from Achilles injury with 7 points, 6 assists in 16 minutes

Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers returned to the court in a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 7. He played 16 minutes, recording 7 points and 6 assists. The Pacers won the game 123-112.

The game was played at Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University. It was the arena where Haliburton spent his college years, and his return there carried personal meaning as he made his NBA dream a reality.

Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 19 points, and LaMelo Ball added 14. Edwards made four 3-pointers, and Ball also made four 3-pointers. The Pacers held off the Timberwolves' offense to win the game.

Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals and missed the entire 2025-26 season. The Pacers lost to the Thunder in the Finals that year. This return marks his first game action after a long absence.

An Achilles tendon rupture is a serious injury in which the tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel tears. Returning requires a long recovery period and gradual increases in workload. The Achilles is especially subject to heavy stress from planting and sudden changes of direction, so a careful, step-by-step return is required. The process involves gradually increasing game time and testing the body's response while rebuilding game sharpness.

The 16-minute limit reflects the current situation more than the stat line does. For a player returning from an Achilles rupture, the focus is on whether he can withstand back-to-back games rather than on game sharpness. It is natural to expect that minutes and back-to-back load will be carefully managed for some time after the season opens.

On schedules with consecutive games, the usual approach is to limit minutes and check the player's physical condition after every game. Strength and range of motion during the recovery period are also considered important to prevent a re-injury.

On the same day, Lillard also returned from the same Achilles injury. Two players returning from the same injury became a shared topic that day.

For the Pacers, the star player's condition goes directly to the stability of the team. Ahead of the season, the key point to watch is how Haliburton's minutes will increase.

The NBA preseason is the final preparation period before official games and also a chance to test key players' game feel.

Background

Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals and missed the entire 2025-26 season. The Pacers lost to the Thunder in the Finals that year.

Basketball Press view

Haliburton's return marks a milestone in confirming his recovery from an Achilles rupture in actual game play. What draws more attention than the stat line is the careful management shown by his 16 minutes on the court. Whether he can withstand back-to-back games will determine how he is used after the season opens. For the Pacers, the game also showed that the health of their star player goes directly to the team's stability.

Translated from the Japanese article by the Basketball Press editors. AI is used to assist in translation.