Pacers
The Pacers faced a tough stretch without star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, dropping all three games last week while he was sidelined due to a hip injury. The struggles culminated in a frustrating loss to the Bulls on Monday, when coach Rick Carlisle expressed his displeasure by pulling all five starters at once in the third quarter, as relayed by Dustin Dopriak of the Indianapolis Star.
However, the Pacers received a much-needed boost on Tuesday as Haliburton returned to the lineup for a crucial game against division-rival Bucks.
The point guard’s presence made an immediate impact, and in a dramatic finish, he capped off his return by sinking a remarkable four-point play in the final seconds, securing a thrilling 126-124 victory for Indiana.
Haliburton’s clutch performance, which can be seen in a Twitter video, was a fitting conclusion to his return, and a much-needed spark for the Pacers, who are now looking to regain momentum in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Trail Blazers
Matisse Thybulle, the defensive-minded wing for the Trail Blazers, is set to make his season debut on Wednesday against the Knicks, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes. Thybulle has missed the entire 2024-25 campaign so far after undergoing a procedure in October to address inflammation in his right knee.
Initially, the injury was not expected to keep him sidelined for long, but a right ankle sprain sustained in late November during his recovery further delayed his return.
Thybulle, a two-time All-Defensive Second Team selection (2021, 2022) with the 76ers, has long been known for his defensive abilities. But his offensive game leaves a little to be desired, as he’s averaged just 5.9 points per game over 87 appearances with the Blazers.
That said, since being traded to Portland at the 2023 deadline and re-signing with the team in the offseason on a three-year, $33 million deal, Thybulle has become a more reliable outside shooter. He’s hit 35.8% of his 3.6 three-point attempts per game in Portland, a significant improvement from his 32.5% mark from beyond the arc in Philadelphia.
Rockets
Fred VanVleet is set to make his second comeback this month, with the Houston Rockets point guard listed as probable to play against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, according to Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle. VanVleet fully participated in a light practice on Tuesday, as described by coach Ime Udoka.
The 29-year-old has been sidelined for 16 of the past 17 games due to a right ankle strain. After missing 11 consecutive games, VanVleet returned to action on March 1 against Sacramento, but was limited to just three points on 1-of-8 shooting in 35 minutes.
He did contribute five rebounds, five assists, and three steals, but reinjured the same ankle after stepping on a referee’s foot, leading to another five-game absence.
VanVleet has been a key contributor for the Rockets this season, averaging 14.4 points and 5.8 assists in 46 starts. His return is especially timely, as fellow starter Amen Thompson is expected to miss at least 10 to 14 days due to a left ankle sprain, further increasing the importance of VanVleet’s presence in the lineup.
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