Haliburton Returns: Pacers Eye Finals Repeat

The Indiana Pacers are set to tip off their 2026-27 season on Wednesday night, welcoming back star guard Tyrese Haliburton from an Achilles injury. Haliburton's return is a key factor as the Pacers look to build on their impressive 2025 NBA Finals run. The team will face the New Orleans Pelicans on the road, where they are favored by oddsmakers, despite the absence of T.J. McConnell and Aaron Nesmith due to injuries.

The Pelicans, who struggled last season with only 26 wins, have made minimal offseason moves. While Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Dejounte Murray are expected to be healthy, and Bennedict Mathurin was added for bench scoring, their ability to compete in the Western Conference play-in picture remains uncertain. The Pacers, under coach Rick Carlisle, are expected to employ an uptempo style and full-court pressure, aiming to make a statement in their season opener.

Oddsmakers have set the spread at Pacers -3.5, with the moneyline favoring Indiana at -162. The total points are set at 239.5. For individual player props, Tyrese Haliburton is projected to exceed 8.5 assists, given his history of leading the league and facing a Pelicans defense that allowed many opponent assists last season. The game is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST at the Smoothie King Center.