​The Indiana Pacers grinded out a hard-fought victory to begin their Summer League slate, edging the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-93. In the postgame remarks, head coach Rick Carlisle touched on several topics, with a prominent focus on the health status of their superstar point guard, Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton missed the entire 2025-26 NBA season after suffering a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Without him on the floor, Indiana struggled, finishing the year with a 19-63 record. Carlisle delivered an encouraging health update, noting that Haliburton has been playing five-on-five for an extended period and is actively pursuing his recovery over the summer. “Ty’s doing well. He’s been playing 5-on-5 for a long time,” Carlisle said. “It’s going to be a bit of a journey for him. But he’s aggressively attacking the summer.” While Indiana is likely to ease Haliburton into the start of the 2026-27 season, there may not be a strict minute cap, the Pacers cannot afford to push him too hard too quickly.
Haliburton’s 2024-25 campaign showcased his continued dominance before the injury. He appeared in 73 games, averaging 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 47.3% from the floor and 38.8% from beyond the arc. Though his scoring and assist numbers dipped slightly from his previous two seasons, he remained among the elite playmakers in the league. At 26 years old, Haliburton still has the prime years of his career ahead of him, and the Pacers have constructed a competitive roster around him, highlighted by the recent additions of Ivica Zubac and Kelly Oubre Jr., who have joined the fold.
Fans and analysts alike remain hopeful that Haliburton’s recovery will continue to progress smoothly, with optimism currently outweighing any concerns about his timeline. For now, the health news from Indiana is overwhelmingly positive, providing a bright outlook for the Pacers’ present and future. Looking ahead, Indiana’s next Summer League matchup is set to be against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday afternoon, with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET. This game will continue to be a key gauge of Haliburton’s progress and the broader trajectory of Indiana’s evolving roster as they prepare for the upcoming NBA season.