{"id":865347,"date":"2026-10-23T00:18:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T00:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/865347\/"},"modified":"2026-10-23T00:18:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T00:18:16","slug":"pacers-host-mavs-with-tyrese-haliburton-back-on-home-court-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/865347\/","title":{"rendered":"Pacers host Mavs with Tyrese Haliburton back on home court – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Indianapolis will welcome back Tyrese Haliburton, who helped transform the Indiana Pacers into contenders, while Cooper Flagg will look to continue his emergence for the visiting Dallas Mavericks when the teams square off Friday.<\/p>\n

It will be the first home game in 490 days for Haliburton, who missed all of last season after tearing his right Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.<\/p>\n

In the Pacers\u2019 season opener, Haliburton flashed the form that made him a two-time All-Star, scoring 23 points and handing out 12 assists in a 123-120 road victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.<\/p>\n

After the game, Haliburton acknowledged the emotions surrounding his comeback.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think I was going to cry,\u201d he said. \u201cBut there was a moment where it just all hit me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haliburton\u2019s return gives Indiana renewed optimism after the Pacers went 19-63 in his absence last season. Reunited with Pascal Siakam, Haliburton hopes to help Indiana recapture the form that carried them to The Finals two seasons ago.<\/p>\n

Siakam finished with a game-high 30 points against the Pelicans.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t take Pascal Siakam for granted,\u201d Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. \u201c\u2026 He\u2019s so consistent and makes it look so consistently easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carlisle said Quenton Jackson was the \u201chero of the game\u201d against New Orleans after posting six points, four rebounds and three steals in 16 minutes off the bench.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe earned his way into crunch time,\u201d Carlisle said. \u201cThat\u2019s what we need. We need guys playing their hearts out. Anything less isn\u2019t going to get us there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Mavericks fell 128-110 on the road to the Houston Rockets in their season opener, spoiling Dusty May\u2019s debut as Dallas coach. Flagg, however, continued his ascent as a dynamic scorer, pouring in a game-high 32 points.<\/p>\n

It was the highest-scoring performance by a teenager in an NBA season opener, adding another milestone for the 2025 No. 1 overall pick and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year. Flagg also made 11 of 13 free throw attempts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s been a point of emphasis,\u201d May said. \u201cWhen we evaluated ourselves after four (preseason) games, getting to the line wasn\u2019t something we did well. We thought (Flagg) was the best way to capitalize on that in the paint.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dallas also welcomed back an All-Star guard from a lengthy injury absence. Kyrie Irving scored 15 points in his first game since tearing his left ACL on March 3, 2025.<\/p>\n

The Mavericks are still working to unlock their offense with Irving back in the lineup alongside Flagg.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Irving) is obviously a focal point,\u201d May said. \u201cThere are going to be puzzles we have to figure out. \u2026 We\u2019ve got to do a better job and find solutions there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Mavericks trailed Houston 70-38 at halftime after being outscored 38-12 in the second quarter. Flagg pointed to the team\u2019s recurring struggles in those 12 minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thing for us, all preseason has been second quarters,\u201d Flagg said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had bad second quarters going into the half. We have to come out and dig ourselves out of a hole in the third quarter. We have to find a way to combat that and have better second quarters.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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