Haliburton (Achilles) absent from injury report

Haliburton and the Pacers didn’t get the win on Monday, but his being on the floor was a big deal. The Pacers’ point guard played both games of the team’s road back-to-back, logging 35 minutes against the Bucks. Haliburton appeared to get his upper left leg wrapped up during a stint on the bench early in the fourth quarter, but he returned a few minutes later and finished the game.

Haliburton and the Pacers bounced back from Friday’s loss to the Mavericks, taking care of the Nets in their Week 1 finale. The Pacers’ point guard recorded his second 20-point double-double in three games and hit four three-pointers. While injury management may be a concern, Haliburton said in his postgame interview that he expects to play on Monday against the Bucks. If he’s overruled and doesn’t play, that would raise Andrew Nembhard’s (14/1/3/1 with four three-pointers) ceiling.

You’d want Haliburton to be more aggressive, especially in games where they can’t score, but this is part of the deal with Haliburton. He’s not the type of person that will take a bunch of shots and will have games where he doesn’t score much. The reason why Haliburton is a good fantasy player is not the scoring. He got the peripheral stats in this game which is good to see.

Jarace Walker will take Kelly Oubre’s spot in the starting lineup after he started the first game. The Pacers also have Aaron Nesmith available to play tonight. It’s possible that Rick Carlisle is trying to match the size of the Mavericks by putting Walker in to start.

Haliburton was overcome with emotion in the postgame interview after he had 23 points and the Pacers won the first game he’s played since he suffered a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. It was certainly a meaningful milestone for the 26-year-old point guard, who was also diagnosed with shingles while recovering from his torn Achilles. Haliburton was sharp in the preseason and in the regular season opener he looked ready to deliver first-round fantasy value once again.

Kelly Oubre is getting the start with Aaron Nesmith out with a hamstring strain. Oubre can be used as a streamer in redraft leagues for today.

Haliburton has looked incredibly sharp in the Pacers’ final two preseason games, which is great news for the team and for fantasy managers hoping to roster him. He played 20 minutes in the first half of Friday’s exhibition, led the Pacers in shot attempts and dished out six assists. Haliburton has delivered first-round fantasy value before, and his preseason finish suggests the star point guard is ready for a full workload after missing all of last season with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

This wasn’t Haliburton’s first game of the preseason, but the last time he played in a game that counted, it was in Game 7 of the NBA Finals in Oklahoma City. Back in the same place he tore his Achilles, Haliburton was able to get off to a hot start, just like he did in Game 7. He scored all 24 of his points in the first half before sitting the entirety of the second half. He appears ready to return to being a fantasy superstar and should be one of the best picks in the second round.

Haliburton looked understandably rusty from a shooting standpoint, going just 1-of-3 from three-point range, in his first game action since tearing his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against Oklahoma City. It’s probably going to take him some time to return to form after missing all of last season. This was his first live action in a game setting in nearly 500 days. Still, he showcased his usual top-notch passing and looked just fine from a physical standpoint while changing direction and driving to the basket on a couple occasions. The 26-year-old remains one of the most dynamic playmakers in the game and should be a first-round selection in all fantasy drafts this fall.

Haliburton, who ruptured his Achilles tendon during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, did not play at all last season. In addition to recovering from that injury, he had to deal with a case of shingles in February. The good news for the Pacers is that their star point guard is back to full strength and should be good to go for the start of next season. “I feel like I’m operating like I’m a healthy NBA player for the first time in a long time, which is exciting,” Haliburton said on Saturday. “The fact that I’m able to come here without having to answer questions from anybody in our organization about my health, that I’m just able to jump in and do some things with the kids, that means the world to me. It’s something I don’t take for granted after the last 12 months.” While he may need some time to shake off the rust, a healthy Haliburton is one of the most valuable players in fantasy basketball.