On Wednesday evening, the Indiana Pacers will hit the floor for their first preseason game of the upcoming season against the Minnesota Timberwolves. This game will mark the return of point guard Tyrese Haliburton to the lineup for his first game action since tearing his Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals in 2025.
The game on Wednesday will take place at Iowa State University, where Haliburton played his college basketball, and ClutchPoints recently reported on X, formerly Twitter, that Haliburton “bought every student-section ticket at Iowa State so that Cyclones fans can attend the game for free.”
It's certainly a classy gesture for a player who has been known for his work off the court in the community in addition to his prowess on the basketball court for the Pacers.
Meanwhile, perhaps no team in the league has a wider range of predicted outcomes heading into this season than the Pacers. Indiana and its fans generally assume that the team will be able to quickly retake its spot among the elite teams in the Eastern Conference this year, having won the conference in dominant fashion the last time they were healthy and very nearly going on to win the NBA title.
Article Continues BelowHowever, others are skeptical that the Pacers will be able to fully recapture their 2025 magic, with questions about Haliburton's adjustment process as he returns to the floor, as well as some of the major improvements that other teams in the conference have made this offseason, being pointed to as reasons for doubt.
In any case, the Pacers will start their quest to put those doubters to rest when the regular season gets underway on October 21 on the road vs the New Orleans Pelicans.