NBAToday
Haliburton Makes Long-Awaited Return in Preseason Opener
The Pacers guard played 16 minutes and scored seven points in his first action in more than 16 months.
By OddsListing wire desk
· 1 min read
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Performance in Iowa
Tyrese Haliburton returned to the court for the Pacers in their preseason game against the Timberwolves at Iowa State. He finished with seven points on three of eight shooting, along with six assists, one steal and two blocks in 16 minutes. Indiana won 123-112. All of his minutes came in the first half after more than 400 days away from NBA action.
Adjusting to Game Speed
Haliburton noted that his body moved faster than expected due to adrenaline and excitement. He compared the experience to that of a rookie but said his ability to read the floor remained at its normal pace. He expects further improvement through additional game repetitions and stressed the value of the outing for both himself and the team.
College Atmosphere and Fan Energy
Haliburton arranged for students to fill the end sections on a first-come basis, leading to a line that began forming at 11 p.m. the previous night and wrapped around the arena. Fans chanted for more playing time in the fourth quarter while he sat in sandals, but he stayed on the bench to follow the planned recovery process.
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