Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard made their long-awaited returns to the NBA hardwood during the opening slate of preseason action, playing in games for the Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers respectively after extended injury absences. TrashTalk reported that both star guards stepped back onto the floor following recovery periods that kept them out of action for roughly a year and a half. While Haliburton logged 16 minutes in a home victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lillard suited up in front of the Portland faithful, generating significant buzz across the league as training camp exhibitions got underway.
Haliburton Returns to the Court in Ames After 472 Days
Playing his first game 472 days after his last official appearance, Tyrese Haliburton returned during the Indiana Pacers’ 123-112 preseason win against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, as detailed by Sport Pulse. Haliburton suffered a torn right achilles tendon during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, forcing him to sit out the entire 2025-26 campaign. The exhibition matchup was originally scheduled for the 2025 preseason before being pushed back a year due to his rehabilitation.
Working primarily in the first half, Haliburton logged 16 minutes of action as a starter. He finished the night with 7 points, shooting 3-of-8 from the field including 1-of-3 from beyond the arc, while adding 6 assists, 1 interception, and 2 blocks. Sport Pulse noted that the guard bought out the student section tickets behind the baseline to distribute to university students on a first-come, first-served basis, drawing a packed crowd that began queueing the night before.
“Ce n’est que le premier match, mais il faut que tout ralentisse. Il y avait énormément d’adrénaline,” Haliburton said after the game, describing himself as feeling like a rookie whose physical pace outran his court vision amid high adrenaline. Indiana teammate Aaron Nesmith led all scorers for the Pacers with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Rudy Gobert paced the Timberwolves with 7 points and 9 rebounds in 19 minutes of play.
Damian Lillard Reunites with Portland as Ja Morant Debuts
In Portland, Damian Lillard made his much-anticipated return in a Trail Blazers uniform after spending time with the Milwaukee Bucks following a 2023 trade seeking championship contention. TrashTalk reported that Lillard, who joined Portland a year ago just after suffering an Achilles tendon tear, was welcomed back like a rockstar by the home crowd. For his return performance, Lillard recorded 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field.
Blazers supporters also received their first look at the backcourt pairing of Lillard and newly arrived star Ja Morant. TrashTalk noted that Morant contributed 8 points on 3-of-8 shooting, alongside 5 assists and 2 interceptions in his unofficial debut for the franchise, giving the Pacific Northwest fanbase an early glimpse of the team’s revamped perimeter attack.
Standout Performances Across the League
Elsewhere across the preseason schedule, young prospects and seasoned rotation players made early statements. Cameron Boozer posted 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists on 4-of-7 shooting for the Memphis Grizzlies against the Orlando Magic, according to TrashTalk. Caleb Wilson added 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists for the Chicago Bulls in a matchup against the Phoenix Suns that featured a 24-point scoring effort from Dillon Brooks in just 23 minutes of action.
Pacers Host Hawks as Timberwolves Face Heat
The Indiana Pacers are scheduled to host the Atlanta Hawks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in the early hours of Sunday, October 11, at 1:00 AM UTC (9:00 PM local time on Saturday), according to Sport Pulse match schedules. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves will travel to face the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on the same night at 2:00 AM UTC (10:00 PM local time), as teams continue preparations for the opening of the 2026-27 NBA regular season.
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