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Tyrese Haliburton Ready for First Matchup With Bennedict Mathurin Since Pacers Split
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- Tyrese Haliburton Ready for First Matchup With Bennedict Mathurin Since Pacers Split
(Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images)
The last game Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin played as teammates was Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Haliburton's right Achilles tendon gave out in the opening quarter that night in Oklahoma City, and the Thunder won 103-91 for the title.
On Wednesday, they are on opposite benches. The Indiana Pacers start the 2026-27 regular season against Mathurin and the New Orleans Pelicans at 8 p.m. ET at Smoothie King Center.
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Haliburton has never played against Mathurin in an NBA game. Mathurin was with Indiana until the Feb. 5 trade and finished the year with the LA Clippers , and Haliburton sat out the whole season rehabbing.
"I'm excited, man," Haliburton said. "I'm excited. I didn't get to play against Benn last year like everybody else. I know how fierce of a competitor he is. We've definitely had our battles in here in the summer and in training camp and things like that. So I look forward to being back on the floor with him."
"Last time we played together, obviously ended on a little bit of a sour note, to say the least," Haliburton continued. "I think we've grown closer since that moment. I would definitely say that. I'm really excited to see him in New Orleans and for him to get a fresh start there. Definitely looking forward to being back on the floor with him."
Mathurin's Route to New Orleans
Indiana drafted Mathurin sixth overall out of Arizona in 2022. He made the All-Rookie First Team that season and came off the bench during the 2025 run to the Finals.
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The Pacers sent him to Los Angeles with Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick in the trade that brought center Ivica Zubac to Indiana . Forward Kobe Brown came to the Pacers in the same deal.
Between the two teams, Mathurin played 54 games and set career highs with 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 0.8 steals a game. His first home game as a Clipper was a 38-point night off the bench against the Denver Nuggets.
He was a restricted free agent this summer, so Los Angeles still controlled his rights. Mathurin's representatives asked the Clippers to pull his $8.8 million qualifying offer, ESPN's Shams Charania reported , and once they did, he agreed to terms with New Orleans on Aug. 26.
The deal runs two years at $16 million, and the second year is a player option. Mathurin is 24. In 263 career games, he has averaged 16.2 points and 4.7 rebounds.
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Haliburton Ready to Start Again
Haliburton feels like he is in a good place from a basketball standpoint after three preseason games.
"Just really excited to get back on the floor," Haliburton explained. "It's been a long journey to get here. Preseason I think was a fun kind of starting point. A good place to get some film on us to watch and take the good and take the bad. You kind of just have to flush it all right now as you prepare for game one. But I'm really excited to be back on the floor and looking forward to everything that comes with the NBA season, the good, the bad, the ugly, so it'll be fun."
What Changed in Indiana
Myles Turner was the first piece of the Finals rotation to go. He signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in July 2025 after 10 seasons in Indiana, and Jay Huff and Jackson handled center until the deadline. Jackson started 14 of his 38 games before he was dealt.
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Zubac played five games for Indiana after he arrived.
The Clippers got Indiana's 2026 first-round pick, too. It landed in the lottery, outside the protected range, so it went to Los Angeles in June.
Kelly Oubre Jr. was the summer's outside addition. The 30-year-old wing agreed to a two-year deal on July 1 after averaging 14.1 points for the Philadelphia 76ers. Projections after his signing had him coming off the bench behind Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Zubac.
New Orleans went 26-56 last season and missed the playoffs, and Indiana went 19-63. The Pelicans did not have a first-round pick in June after trading it in 2025 for the chance to draft Derik Queen 13th overall.
After Wednesday, the Pacers and Pelicans meet again Feb. 8 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with tip-off at 7 p.m. ET.
