The Pacers are back in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, returning to the city where their 2025 NBA Finals run ended.
Tyrese Haliburton made the trip for the first time since suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Game 7. Whether he’ll play is another question.
The Pacers are halfway through their four-game preseason slate after coming up short to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, 119-117.
“We’re gonna have to do better with turnovers, we’re gonna have to do better with fouling and rebounding was a problem so those are big areas of concern,” head coach Rick Carlisle said after the game.
The Pacers allowed at least 31 points in each of the first three quarters, were outrebounded 49-35, and there were 62 combined free throws.
Game 7 of the NBA Finals was the last time we saw Haliburton play in a meaningful game.
Despite missing all of last season to rehab, Haliburton accompanied the team on every road trip until he developed a bad case of shingles — with one notable exception: Oklahoma City.
He wasn’t ready. He didn’t want to return only to have hundreds of thoughts racing through his head as he watched from the bench, unable to contribute on the court.
The NBA does not have injury reports during the preseason, but we know from multiple photos shared on the Pacers’ social media that Haliburton is on the trip.
That’s notable because he also sat out of Saturday’s game after tweaking his right ankle during his emotional return to the court earlier in the week at Iowa State. That’s unlucky — and not ideal for a player who needs game reps to build up for the regular season, and to play alongside newcomer Ivica Zubac and others.
Haliburton was limited in practice on Friday and underwent an MRI.
Then on Monday, Carlisle was brief in his answers to Tony East after practice, saying that Haliburton did not have any limitations and he’d share who was out before the game the following day.
This definitely has my attention, as does Aaron Nesmith after he didn’t look completely comfortable in his final minutes against the Hawks.
None of the starters for either team played in the fourth quarter, which was won by the Pacers 31-23.
Larry Nance Jr. (six points, five rebounds) returned against the Hawks after tweaking a hamstring about one month ago before training camp. T.J. McConnell has not yet played due to a hamstring.
“He’s a knowledgeable, veteran player with feel,” Carlisle said of Nance Jr., “who knows how to play the game. He’s been a good defender and rebounder in his career, and he’s just very smart and a good communicator.”
Hali Ween
After the game on Saturday, Haliburton hosted an early Halloween party for his teammates and friends. He called it “Hali Ween.”
Well played.
The Pacers will be back in Indy on Oct. 31 after playing in Miami the night before — what will be their fourth game in six days. So they’ll be tired.
Entire Pacers Roster Attends Community Pop-Up
Another week, another pair of renovated basketball courts were unveiled by the Pacers Foundation on Friday.
I was on the east side of Indianapolis, about 20 minutes from downtown, as they held a community pop-up for the neighborhood. A ribbon-cutting for the two basketball courts was the featured event at Grassy Creek Regional Park.
Warren Township Schools are on fall break, so hundreds of kids were able to attend the afternoon event, play knockout and enjoy their updated neighborhood courts. Even better, the entire Pacers roster arrived in two charter buses to spend an hour at the event.
There were also multiple food trucks, a half-dozen bouncy houses, giveaways, a photo op with Pacemates and more to engage with the local community.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett was on hand for the ribbon-cutting and he delivered remarks.
The Pacers Foundation’s “State of Play” initiative has renovated more than two dozen basketball courts across the state to promote healthy lifestyles, strengthen neighborhoods and build local pride.
More to come from the event…
Ronald Nored Makes Butler Coaching Debut
Former Butler point guard Ronald Nored made his debut as the men’s basketball coach on Sunday as the Bulldogs hosted Darian DeVries’ IU program in what was the first exhibition game of the season for both clubs.
It’s crazy that the college basketball season has arrived already.
For Butler, it was the chance to play someone else on their court, fill historic Hinkle Fieldhouse and face an in-state foe. For Indiana, it was their lone chance to play a true road game during the non-conference portion of their schedule.
Both rosters are almost entirely new, so neither program knew exactly what to expect.
It was close in the first half, with the Hoosiers holding a 44-41 halftime lead.
Butler got to within one in the second half, 54-53, and then it was all IU after that. The Hoosiers went on a 32-4 run as the Bulldogs endured a dry spell, ultimately finishing the game shooting 36% from the field.
IU’s size and depth stood out as they were +20 on the glass en route to a 96-68 win in the first tune-up game of the season.
Next up, IU faces North Carolina at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday. The Tar Heels are coached by former NBA head coach Michael Malone.
Ronald Nored’s road home to Butler was 14 years in the making
It didn’t take long for Ronald Nored to become a head basketball coach. Before graduating from Butler University in 2012 — and just a week after playing in his final game for the Bulldogs — the college senior already had his first job li…
It was also great to see Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, make it back to Indy to support Nored — a former player of his taking over the program.
He received a loud ovation when he was introduced late in the first half.
