INDIANAPOLIS — Tyrese Haliburton is back.
The Indiana Pacers star was in the starting lineup Friday night in Portland, 11 days after he strained his hamstring in a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Haliburton posted "back active" Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter, hours before Indiana's game against the Trail Blazers.
Haliburton has been sidelined since for more than a week after straining his left hamstring while driving to the basket in a game against Boston on Jan. 8. An initial report about the severity of Haliburton's injury from ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski indicated that the Pacers guard would be re-evaluated about two weeks after the injury.
Friday's news seems to indicate that evaluation came sooner than expected. Haliburton told reporters Thursday that he could return to action during the current road trip, which wraps up Sunday.
His return coincided with the Pacers debut of All-Star Pascal Siakam, who was acquired in a trade with the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. Wojnarowski posted Friday that Haliburton and Siakam would play against the Trail Blazers.
Head coach Rick Carlisle later confirmed Siakam will play. Both All-Stars were in the starting lineup.
Siakam is averaging 22.2 points this season, and he has averaged 17.4 points and 6.5 rebounds in his career. He was an All-Star in 2020 and 2023 and was the last starter from Toronto’s NBA title team still with the franchise.
Haliburton is averaging 12.5 assists per game, which leads the NBA. His 23.6 points per game average, 86.8% free throw percentage and 3.4 three-pointers made per game lead the Pacers, as well.
Haliburton is leading Eastern Conference guards in fan voting for the NBA All-Star Game, which will be held Sunday, Feb. 18 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pacers wrap up their western road trip Sunday in Phoenix. They return home to host the Denver Nuggets Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. EST.