Tyrese Haliburton on returning from Achilles tear: 'I'm a little beat up'

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Tyrese Haliburton on returning from Achilles tear: 'I'm a little beat up'

Tyrese Haliburton on returning from Achilles tear: 'I'm a little beat up'

Dustin Dopirak, Indianapolis Star

Tue, October 27, 2026 at 8:20 AM UTC ·

2 min read

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MILWAUKEE -- Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton says he has no physical restrictions this season after sitting out all of last season and having 16 months to rehab and recover from the Achilles tendon tear he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. But that's not the same as saying his body doesn't require any treatment or precautions, especially when he's playing both nights of back-to-backs.

Haliburton played just less than 35 minutes in the Pacers' 110-102 loss to the Bucks on Monday night, posting 22 points, nine assists and six rebounds. To keep his muscles loose during the periods he was out of the game, he rode a stationary bike in the tunnel between the Pacers' bench and locker room and had wraps on his legs.

Haliburton said he doesn't have an injury exactly but he is feeling the toll of the season's first four games and his first back-to-back.

"I'm a little beat up, but I'll be fine," Haliburton said. When asked what on him was beat up, he said, "Overall body."

Oct 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (10) blocks the shot of Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
(Michael McLoone, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
(Michael McLoone, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
(Michael McLoone, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) brings the ball up court against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
(Michael McLoone, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) brings the ball up the court again the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
(Michael McLoone, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) puts up a shot against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
(Michael McLoone, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff (32) dunks the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
(Michael McLoone, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Oct 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) drives against Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
(Michael McLoone, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Haliburton said that although he is fully recovered and spent all offseason conditioning his body, the start of the season hits hard and it's hitting harder now because of how long it's been since he played an NBA game. Though Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the team will be watching Haliburton closely when they're making decisions for back-to-backs, Haliburton expects his ability to withstand them to improve as the season goes on.

"The cardio part of it is a big thing in early preseason, early season feeling it," Haliburton said. "But just getting my legs back is the biggest thing. It's hard to prepare for my leg fatigue. Jump shots and all those things. I"ll just keep pushing through it. It will take a couple weeks, but I'll get where I need to be."

Haliburton is averaging 21.8 points and 9.5 assists per game through the first four games.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Tyrese Haliburton on returning from Achilles tear: 'I'm a little beat up'

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Tyrese Haliburton on returning from Achilles tear: 'I'm a little beat up'

See Kelly Oubre block Myles Turner in Indiana Pacers photos vs. Milwaukee Bucks in NBA action

See Kelly Oubre block Myles Turner in Indiana Pacers photos vs. Milwaukee Bucks in NBA action

See Kelly Oubre block Myles Turner in Indiana Pacers photos vs. Milwaukee Bucks in NBA action

See Kelly Oubre block Myles Turner in Indiana Pacers photos vs. Milwaukee Bucks in NBA action

See Kelly Oubre block Myles Turner in Indiana Pacers photos vs. Milwaukee Bucks in NBA action

See Kelly Oubre block Myles Turner in Indiana Pacers photos vs. Milwaukee Bucks in NBA action

See Kelly Oubre block Myles Turner in Indiana Pacers photos vs. Milwaukee Bucks in NBA action

See Kelly Oubre block Myles Turner in Indiana Pacers photos vs. Milwaukee Bucks in NBA action

See Kelly Oubre block Myles Turner in Indiana Pacers photos vs. Milwaukee Bucks in NBA action