Tyrese Haliburton scores 23 in return as Pacers edge Pelicans

Oct 21, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) looks to pass against New Orleans Pelicans guard Bennedict Mathurin (24) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Pascal Siakam scored 30 points and Tyrese Haliburton paired 23 points with 12 assists in his return as the Indiana Pacers defeated the host New Orleans Pelicans 123-120 in both teams' season opener Wednesday. Obi Toppin added 20 off the bench, Andrew Nembhard posted 18 points and nine assists, and Ivica Zubac had 16 points and 15 rebounds as Indiana prevailed after overcoming a 35-18 second-quarter letdown. Dejounte Murray contributed 23 points and seven assists for New Orleans, while Zion Williamson had 22 points and Yves Missi compiled 13 points, 14 boards and three blocks. After a pair of Quenton Jackson free throws put the Pacers up 123-120 with 45.7 seconds to play, Williamson missed a finger roll at the other end. The Pelicans earned another shot when Nembhard was called for traveling, but Jeremiah Fears and Williamson both missed 3-pointers in the dying stages. It was Haliburton's first official game since Game 7 of the 2025 Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder when he tore his right Achilles, sidelining him all of last season. Indiana was fast out of the blocks, going up 23-14 and still in control at 38-31 after the first quarter. The Pelicans attacked the cup to score the first 12 points of the second period to take a 43-41 lead, the Pacers' first score for the quarter coming with 7:29 left. After shooting 13 of 22 in the opening frame, Indiana went an ice-cold 7 of 21 in the second, while being outrebounded 21-6. The lead changed hands five times in the quarter, before New Orleans finished it with a rush. Williamson, who hit 1 of 4 3-pointers all last season, drained two 3-pointers inside the last minute of the half, a wide-open pullup then another one on the halftime buzzer, to stretch the Pelicans' advantage to 66-56. The Pacers reduced the gap to 92-86 with one quarter to play, before taking that momentum into the fourth. After Indiana closed to 101-100, Haliburton received a technical foul for taunting Derik Queen, with players from both teams rushing in to separate the pair. The indiscretion didn't slow the Pacers, who went on a 13-3 run and took their first lead of the half on a Nembhard layup. --Field Level Media