NBA Notes: Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton, Bulls, Matas Buzelis, Spurs

October 10, 2026

Pacers

The early returns on Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac are encouraging.

Haliburton returned Wednesday after missing all of last season with a torn Achilles, while Zubac is still getting comfortable after playing only five games with Indiana following a February trade.

“You can practice as much as you want, but game reps are always going to be different,” Zubac told Chloe Peterson of the Indianapolis Star.

Zubac said the first game gave him a better feel for how opponents may defend Indiana’s starting group. And Haliburton sounds optimistic about the partnership.

“It’ll come in time, but I’m really confident in it,” he said. “We all were at halftime like, ‘This is going to be a lot of fun.’”

Bulls

Matas Buzelis doesn’t sound overly concerned about the right ankle injury that knocked him out of Friday’s preseason game against Memphis.

“Just a little sore, nothing crazy,” Buzelis said, via Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic. “I think I’ll be ready for Sunday.”

Buzelis was injured after making a highlight-reel block and was ruled out for the rest of the game. He said afterward that he expects to travel with the Bulls for Sunday’s game in Denver.

Big man Jalen Smith also missed Friday’s game with left foot soreness, though coach Tiago Splitter expects that absence to be short-term.

Spurs

The Spurs may be getting ready to lean into a three-guard starting group.

Mitch Johnson intended to start De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper together Thursday against Atlanta before Fox was held out because of soreness, according to Jared Weiss of The Athletic.

Harper certainly looked comfortable in the role, finishing with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists without a turnover in 19 first-half minutes. He also likes the potential of playing alongside Fox and Castle.

“We’re going to be really hard to guard,” Harper said. “When me and Steph get downhill, Fox has the same ability.”

Harper also pointed to the group’s willingness to share the ball.

“We’re all unselfish, and we all understand where we’re going to get our shots from,” he said. “We understand what we all have to do to win. So, I mean, it’s going to be great.”