The Mavericks head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse Friday for their first back‑to‑back game, facing a Pacers squad energized by Tyrese Haliburton’s return from a torn Achilles. Indiana, 1‑0 after a 123‑120 win over New Orleans, leans on Haliburton’s 23‑point, 12‑assist effort, Pascal Siakam’s 30‑point night, and new acquisition Kelly Oubre Jr. Dallas, 0‑1 after a 128‑110 loss to Houston, looks to cut the 21 turnovers that fuelled the Rockets’ win. Coach Dusty May stresses faster play and ball‑sharing, while Max Christie calls Haliburton “the engine” for Indiana. Injuries leave several Mavericks doubtful, including Jett Howard.
The Dallas Mavericks (0‑1) take on the Indiana Pacers (1‑0) Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Catch the game on Dallas’ KFAA or stream it live via Fubo (free trial available). After a 128‑110 loss to Houston, Dallas got 32 points from Cooper Flagg, 17 from Marcus Sasser and 15 from Kyrie Irving, but endured a 37‑point deficit and missed all 14 threes in the second quarter. Indiana opened with a 123‑120 win over New Orleans, led by Pascal Siakam’s 30 points and Tyrese Haliburton’s 23 points/12 assists. The matchup promises a fast‑start showdown between two early‑season winners.
The Dallas Mavericks (0-1) travel to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday at 6 p.m. CST for their second road game, facing a 1‑0 Indiana Pacers squad that just beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123‑120. The Pacers debut Tyrese Haliburton, returning from an Achilles tear that sidelined him for the 2025‑26 season, while Indiana also misses TJ McConnell (hamstring) and lists Aaron Nesmith and Ben Sheppard as questionable. Dallas still lacks Dereck Lively, Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic (heel bursitis), Caleb Martin (thumb sprain) and has Jett Howard doubtful (calf). The Mavericks must improve transition defense and rebounding to bounce back from a loss to the Rockets.
The Mavericks enter Friday’s game at Indiana with a laundry list of absentees: Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberović, Dereck Lively II and Caleb Martin are all ruled out, while rookie Jett Howard is doubtful with right‑calf tightness. All four missed the 128‑110 season‑opening loss to Houston, and Howard sat out that game as well. Kyrie Irving returns after a 597‑day hiatus, but no injury news for him. The Pacers list Aaron Nesmith and Ben Sheppard as questionable. Tip‑off is 6 p.m. CT at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Max Christie says the Mavericks must bring urgency after a 128-110 season‑opening loss to the Houston Rockets, where Dallas trailed 70-38 at halftime and fell behind by 37 points in the third quarter. Despite winning the final two quarters, the team shot 2‑of‑8 overall and struggled defensively in transition. Christie highlights the need to improve fast‑break defense and create better shot looks, especially against the fast‑paced Indiana Pacers on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. He also notes the learning curve with Kyrie Irving’s return and the integration of new players like Cooper Flagg.
After a 128-110 loss that saw Dallas trail by 37 points before a late rally, the Mavericks (0-1) face a daunting road test against the Pacers (1-0) in Indianapolis. Indiana opens the season with a win over New Orleans, highlighted by Tyrese Haliburton’s return from a torn Achilles and the addition of center Ivana Zubac. The Pacers are 7.5-point favorites, with betting lines favoring Zubac to exceed 27.5 points and Obi Toppin under 12.5. Dallas must overcome a hostile home crowd and a strong rebounding matchup to pull off a upset.
The Mavericks travel to Indianapolis on Friday night for their first chance at a season win, facing a Pacers squad that opened with a victory over New Orleans. New head coach Dusty May’s experimental rotations—10 players in the first quarter against the Rockets—raise questions about early line‑up stability. Dallas must tighten defense, cutting fast‑break points after allowing 32 off 21 turnovers versus Houston, while improving a cold three‑point start (11‑of‑37) and free‑throw shooting (17‑of‑26). Also highlighted is Tyrese Haliburton’s first non‑exhibition game back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse since June 2025. The game tips off 6 p.m. CDT on KFAA‑TV, Mavs TV, and NBA League Pass.
Veteran guard Collin Sexton was cleared to make his Los Angeles Lakers debut on Friday against the LA Clippers as he was no longer listed on the team’s injury report. Sexton had been sidelined for all preseason and had only recently begun fully participating in practice amid a calf injury. Collin Sexton was initially listed […]
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Tyrese Haliburton returns from a torn Achilles in his first regular‑season game, scoring 23 points (16 in the fourth) and 12 assists to spark a 108‑105 Pacers comeback win at New Orleans. He credits Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray for recovery advice and is emotional seeing fans and family in the arena. With T.J. McConnell still out, Quenton Jackson shines off the bench, earning coach Rick Carlisle’s praise for key steals and layups. Meanwhile, Gary Trent Jr., after re‑signing with Milwaukee, sits out a loss to Washington amid a salary‑cap probe, and the Bulls suffer a 43‑point defeat to Toronto, leaving their schedule and upcoming game against Milwaukee in doubt.
Zion Williamson acknowledges the Pelicans’ 123-120 opening‑night loss to Tyrese Haliburton’s Indiana Pacers on Oct. 22, 2026, saying the team must finally turn “the corner” under new coach Jamahl Mosley. While still backing Mosley’s vision, Williamson stresses that closing games is the biggest hurdle and hints that rebuilding around young talent like 20‑year‑old Jeremiah Fears is becoming inevitable. He pledges to protect and support Fears, echoing All‑Star Dejounte Murray’s call for veterans to lead the franchise out of its mediocrity cycle.
Well, there went the honeymoon period. Jamahl Mosley’s New Orleans Pelicans are already under fire after losing to Tyrese Haliburton’s Indiana Pacers on NBA Opening Night. A wave of criticism swept social media over his rotations, particularly the decision to leave Herb Jones off the court in the closing minutes. As the game slipped away, […]
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The scrappy New Orleans Pelicans dropped their season opener to Tyrese Haliburton’s Indiana Pacers, but Yves Missi provided a major silver lining in Jamahl Mosley’s official debut. Posting 13 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals against Ivica Zubac was impressive, but more importantly, it looked naturally easy for someone who started […]
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Top pick AJ Dybantsda misses his Washington Wizards debut as he sits out a second straight game with a left‑ankle sprain. The Wizards also lose big man Tristan Vukčević (left‑hip impingement) and rookie Felix Okpara (questionable with illness). Dallas’ injury list grows with Santi Aldama (right‑knee surgery), Tarik Biberović (right‑heel bursitis), Dereck Lively II (right‑foot surgery) and Caleb Martin (right‑thumb sprain) all out, while Jett Howard is doubtful. Indiana backs up point guard T.J. McConnell (right hamstring) for the home opener and flags Aaron Nesmith and Ben Sheppard as questionable. Orlando’s Anthony Black, still recovering from a right‑ankle sprain, will miss Friday’s game, and Jonathan Isaac remains out with left‑knee management.
The New Orleans Pelicans have been searching for ways to make Zion Williamson more dangerous beyond the paint. One game into the Jamahl Mosley era, that work is already producing results. Unfortunately, Williamson and Trey Murphy III were more effective from beyond the arc than inside it during an NBA Opening Night loss to Tyrese […]
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Dusty May saw enough in the Mavericks’ opener to identify both the problems and a few possible solutions. The challenge is making those corrections before Friday’s visit to the Pacers. Dallas lost 128-110 to the Rockets on Wednesday, with a 38-12 second quarter creating a deficit that overwhelmed an otherwise productive night from Cooper Flagg. […]
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A starting lineup spot is both a badge of honor and an invitation for opposing scouting reports to tear your game apart. Jeremiah Fears felt the full weight of that shift in a season-opening loss to Tyrese Haliburton’s Indiana Pacers. However, Dejounte Murray keeps stepping in to ensure the young guard’s confidence stays intact as […]
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The NBA uses its 2025 Finals flop—small‑market showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers and a weak ESPN broadcast—as a catalyst to revamp coverage under new 11‑year media deals with ESPN, NBC and Amazon. Executives say the league’s "celebration and education" strategy will spotlight deeper player narratives, more Xs and Os analysis, and nostalgic elements like NBC’s Roundball Rock alongside Amazon’s tech‑heavy LED court. The goal is to connect fans with today’s stars and elevate the game’s storytelling for the next era.
Trail Blazers Damian Lillard gave the Trail Blazers a familiar performance in his return. His responsibilities, however, look different this time around, and he’s happy about that. Lillard scored 25 points and made six three-pointers in 23 minutes Wednesday as Portland routed the Suns 124-83. It was his first regular-season game since recovering from a […]
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Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton made his on-court return on Wednesday, and his performance should worry the Boston Celtics.
Tyrese Haliburton makes his first NBA appearance since tearing his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals, returning to the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 22, 2026. He fuels a 123-120 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, posting 23 points and 12 assists. In a tearful post‑game interview with Jeremiah Johnson, Haliburton reflects on the emotional significance of being back after missing the entire 2025‑26 season—a campaign that saw the Pacers win just 19 games. With his health restored and a new trade for Ivica Zubac, Indiana eyes a surprise run in a deep Eastern Conference.
Walking into the arena for his return from an Achilles injury, Indiana Pacers star and WWE fan Tyrese Haliburton paid homage to “The Game,” Triple H, who famously returned from a quad injury in 2002. Trips took notice of the tribute. He responded to the Pacers’ post of Haliburton’s pre-game outfit, which included the same […]
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Colts deadline deals for Nelson, Buckner, Stewart – tough but needed! Pacers win ugly!
Tyrese Haliburton records 23 points and 12 assists in an emotional NBA comeback after Achilles surgery.
Tyrese Haliburton recorded 23 points and 12 assists in his first regular-season game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon 16 months ago, helping the Indiana Pacers defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-120 on Wednesday night. Pascal Siakam scored 30 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, as Indiana rallied from a double-digit deficit to open […]
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Tyrese Haliburton’s return to NBA action was absolute cinema. It had a tense confrontation, a clutch finish, and a victory that both the team and Hali needed badly. But after missing the entire 2025-26 campaign with a torn Achilles, the Pacers star could not hold back his emotions once the game was over. What began […]
The post “It Means a Lot”: Tears Stream Down Tyrese Haliburton’s Face in NBA Comeback After Heated Exchange With 21-Year-Old Pelican appeared first on EssentiallySports .