From the HERE City National Desk
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Tyrese Haliburton scored 24 points in 18 minutes Tuesday night in his first game back at Paycom Center since tearing his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
The Indiana Pacers All-Star went 9 of 14 from the field with four 3-pointers, three assists and two blocks in a 114-112 overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played only the first half of the preseason matchup.
Haliburton last appeared in Oklahoma City in that Finals Game 7, when he tore the Achilles in the first quarter after making three 3-pointers in the opening seven minutes. He missed the entire 2025-26 season and skipped Indiana’s visit here in January while still recovering.
Tuesday marked his second game back after returning against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 7 in Ames, Iowa. He had missed Indiana’s previous preseason game against the Hawks with a mild ankle injury.
The Pacers host the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday for a final preseason game, then open the regular season Oct. 21 on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans.
