INDIANAPOLIS — Kyrie Irving and Tyrese Haliburton embraced at midcourt during the first quarter of Friday’s game between the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers, long before tensions flared between their teammates.

This form of mutual respect was rooted in shared experiences. Both are former All-Star point guards who missed the 2025-26 season to recover from their respective leg injuries. Irving suffered a torn ACL in his left knee on March 3, 2025, while Haliburton tore his right Achilles on June 22, 2025 in Game 7 of a Finals loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I was just asking how many days has it been since he played his first game at home in front of the fans,” Irving said. “I think he’s at like 400 something and I was like, ‘Man, it’s been 590 something days for me.’ … Both [of us] played on the USA team. Both are trying to strive and be the best point guards in the league and you share that competitive fire.”

Before Friday, the last three games between the Mavericks and Pacers have been decided by four points or less.

“Every time we’re in Indiana, it’s gonna be a dog fight and it starts with Tyrese,” Irving said.

Irving led the Mavericks with 24 points and three assists, while Haliburton totaled 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Pacers. Both players are among an elite list of NBA All-Stars who suffered long-term leg injuries in 2025, including Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, Fred VanVleet and Dejounte Murray.

Irving said there’s a natural connection between him and Haliburton, along with the rest of their NBA peers who missed all or several months of last season.

“You gotta really trust that you’re not alone going through the journey,” Irving said. “There are other people that have dealt with traumatic injuries so you can always look to them for inspiration.”

Both Irving and Haliburton are back on the court playing almost as if their injuries never happened. 

The Pacers star received his flowers in front of a sold out crowd of 17,274 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Irving is up next as Saturday’s home opener against San Antonio will mark his first regular season game at American Airlines Center since he was helped off the floor on that fateful night in March.

“I’m just incredibly grateful and I think you can get a pulse or get a sense of how much the game means to both of us,” Irving said.