Mark Giannotto, USA TODAY Wed, October 28, 2026 at 7:22 PM UTC · 3 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Indiana Pacers could be without star Tyrese Haliburton again and the NBA might have lost another star player to an injury.
The 26-year-old Haliburton is listed as questionable with "left hamstring tightness/soreness" on the team's latest injury report and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said that Haliburton will meet with an outside specialist before Indiana hosts the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 28 .
Haliburton had only just made an emotional return after missing the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals . He played in the Pacers' first four games of the regular season this month, including a back-to-back on Oct. 25-26, and nearly averaged a double-double (21.8 points, 9.5 assists).
Here's the latest on Haliburton's injury situation and how it could affect the Pacers season:
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(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images) A detailed view of Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks shoes during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) A close up of the sneakers worn by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors during the second half of their preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) A close up of the sneakers worn by Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of their preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) A close up of the sneakers worn by Ja Morant of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) A detailed view of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoes during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on October 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) A detailed view of the KD19 shoes worn by Quadir Copeland of the Houston Rockets during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center on October 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) A detailed view of the shoes of Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings in a preseason game at Crypto.com Arena on October 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Luke Hales, Getty Images) Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons shoes during a pre season game against the Phoenix Suns at Little Caesars Arena on October 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus, Getty Images) A view of the shoes worn by Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers during Cleveland Cavaliers Media Day at Rocket Arena on September 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Nick Cammett, Getty Images) A detailed view of Kevin Durant of the Houston Rockets shoes as he poses for a photo during the Houston Rockets Media Day at Hilton Americas-Houston on September 22, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) 1 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season Signature shoes, rare colorways and player exclusives help NBA stars stand out this season. Take a look at some of the coolest sneakers being worn around the league. A close up of the Li-Ning sneakers worn by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors during their game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center on October 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 1 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season Signature shoes, rare colorways and player exclusives help NBA stars stand out this season. Take a look at some of the coolest sneakers being worn around the league. A close up of the Li-Ning sneakers worn by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors during their game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center on October 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 2 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A close up of the Nike sneakers worn by Cameron Boozer of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 3 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of of the shoes worn by Jaylen Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Emilee Chinn, Getty Images) 4 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of shoes on guard Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Emilee Chinn, Getty Images) 5 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of LeBron James' of the Philadelphia 76ers shoes during the first quarter of a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Emilee Chinn, Getty Images) 6 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of the basketball shoes of Trae Young of the Washington Wizards against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Capital One Arena on October 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Patrick Smith, Getty Images) 7 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season The shoes of Yang Hansen of the Portland Trail Blazers are seen during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Moda Center on October 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) 8 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season The shoes of Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns are seen during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on October 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) 9 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season The shoes of Ja Morant of the Portland Trail Blazers are seen during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Moda Center on October 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) 10 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season Detail of the Skechers sneakers worn by Julius Randle of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center on October 21, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) 11 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of the shoes of Keaton Wagler of the Los Angeles Clippers before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Intuit Dome on October 21, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Luke Hales, Getty Images) 12 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks shoes prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on October 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) 13 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks shoes prior to the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on October 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) 14 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of LeBron James of the Philadelphia 76ers shoes during the third quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) 15 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season Shoes worn by Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on October 20, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus, Getty Images) 16 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks shoes during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. (Sarah Stier, Getty Images) 17 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A close up of the sneakers worn by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors during the second half of their preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 18 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A close up of the sneakers worn by Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of their preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 19 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A close up of the sneakers worn by Ja Morant of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 20 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoes during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on October 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) 21 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of the KD19 shoes worn by Quadir Copeland of the Houston Rockets during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center on October 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) 22 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of the shoes of Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings in a preseason game at Crypto.com Arena on October 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Luke Hales, Getty Images) 23 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons shoes during a pre season game against the Phoenix Suns at Little Caesars Arena on October 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Gregory Shamus, Getty Images) 24 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A view of the shoes worn by Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers during Cleveland Cavaliers Media Day at Rocket Arena on September 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Nick Cammett, Getty Images) 25 / 25 See the coolest sneakers of the NBA season A detailed view of Kevin Durant of the Houston Rockets shoes as he poses for a photo during the Houston Rockets Media Day at Hilton Americas-Houston on September 22, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) NBA POWER RANKINGS: Injuries shake up league, winless Miami Heat plummet
Haliburton's status moving forward, beginning with Wednesday's game against the 76ers, is "uncertain," according to Carlisle, due to a hamstring injury that surfaced during the first week of the NBA regular season.
Carlisle told 107.5 The Fan in Indianapolis that the Pacers guard is consulting with "a hamstring expert" used by the team and will learn more about a potential timetable for his return during a 4:15 p.m. ET meeting that will also involve team management and trainers.
"We'll hope this hamstring thing is not a big deal or not any kind of a long term thing," Carlisle said during the interview.
Haliburton was seen riding an exercise bike during break in the action in Monday's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks , according to the Indianapolis Star , and said afterwards he felt "banged up."
Haliburton is making a high-profile comeback from his dramatic injury suffered during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. He did not play during the 2025-26 season while recovering from the Achilles injury. During that process, his progress was slowed by a frustrating case of shingles.
Haliburton has also missed time with hamstring issues in the past, including in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
But he was in the midst of a successful return through four games this month, emerging again as the Pacers' second-leading scorer and top playmaker. Carlisle had been impressed by the improvements his star had seemingly made in his first appearances since the major injury.
"He's got a lot of bounce. He's energetic. He's definitely in an attacking mode and defensively, he's made gains," Carlisle said. "He's gotten stronger and he's battling at a higher level against guys ... A lot of good signs."
Haliburton's hamstring issues come at an inopportune time for the Pacers.
Indiana will already be without center Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain), backup point guard T.J. McConnell (hamstring strain), guard Ben Sheppard (torn left meniscus) and forward Johnny Furphy (ACL tear) against the Sixers on Wednesday. Guard Andrew Nembhard is listed as questionable with neck stiffness and soreness after missing Monday's game.
This would be easier to manage if Indiana were closer to whole. If Haliburton's absence is a few games or a few weeks, the Pacers should still be able to stay afloat and within striking distance of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. But if this turns into another extended absence, Indiana's aspirations to be a contender again become more complicated.
The Pacers can survive a short-term setback, but a team built around Haliburton got them to the NBA Finals before and gives them the best chance to do so again in a deeper Eastern Conference.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How long could Tyrese Haliburton be out after latest injury setback?
Source: Sports
