Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton sidelined again after promising return

October 28, 2026

Tyrese Haliburton waited 16 months to get back on the floor. Four games into his return, the Pacers are facing another stretch without him.

Haliburton has a strained left hamstring and will miss time, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, via Jamal Collier. A recovery timeline has not been established.

That’s a discouraging interruption to a comeback that had given Indiana plenty to feel good about.

After missing all of last season with a torn Achilles suffered in the 2025 NBA Finals, Haliburton averaged 21.8 points, 9.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds through four games. He shot 52% from the field while averaging 33 minutes.

The production was there. Now the Pacers need clarity on when he can resume providing it.

Haliburton played both ends of a Sunday-Monday back-to-back and acknowledged feeling “a little beat up” after Monday’s game in Milwaukee, per ESPN.

His absence also comes with Indiana short on alternatives. T.J. McConnell hasn’t played this season because of a right hamstring strain, while Andrew Nembhard is questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Sixers with neck soreness.

Ivica Zubac is out with a left ankle sprain. Ben Sheppard has a torn left meniscus, and Johnny Furphy underwent right ACL surgery.

Indiana won just 19 games without Haliburton last season. His return was supposed to help put that year behind the Pacers.

The hope is that this interruption is brief. Until doctors establish a timeline, Indiana is back to figuring out how to function without the player who makes its offense go.