Pacers vs. Pelicans: Haliburton returns with 23 and 12, Siakam scores 30 as Indiana edges New Orleans 123-120

Sixteen months after rupturing his right Achilles tendon, Tyrese Haliburton was back running the Indiana Pacers, and he was the one who closed the game. Haliburton finished with 23 points and 12 assists, Pascal Siakam scored 30, and the Pacers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-120 on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Smoothie King Center.

It was Haliburton’s first regular-season game since the injury, according to the Associated Press, and US Google searches for “pacers vs pelicans” passed 100,000 overnight, alongside searches for Haliburton, Siakam and former Pacer Bennedict Mathurin.

Pacers vs. Pelicans: final score and key stats

The official scorer’s report shows the game swinging back and forth: Indiana led 38-31 after one quarter, New Orleans led 66-56 at halftime and 92-86 after three, and the Pacers won the fourth 37-28. There were 13 lead changes and 10 ties.

Pacers - Pascal Siakam: 30 points on 13-of-23 shooting, 8 rebounds (12 points in the fourth quarter, per the AP) - Tyrese Haliburton: 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting, 12 assists - Obi Toppin: 20 points off the bench, 4-of-9 from three - Andrew Nembhard: 18 points, 9 assists - Ivica Zubac: 16 points and 14 or 15 rebounds (see note below)

Pelicans - Dejounte Murray: 23 points, 7 assists - Zion Williamson: 22 points, including two 3-pointers - Yves Missi: 13 points, 14 rebounds - Saddiq Bey: 13 points - Trey Murphy III and Bennedict Mathurin: 11 points each - Derik Queen: 10 points, 10 rebounds off the bench

A small discrepancy: the AP recap credits Zubac with 14 rebounds, while the official scorer’s report lists him with 15. The league’s final box score is the place to settle it.

Indiana outscored New Orleans 64-48 in the paint and 27-10 on fast breaks; the Pelicans had the edge on second-chance points, 27-17. Attendance was 17,232.

How Haliburton took over the fourth quarter

Down 92-86 entering the fourth and then trailing 101-93, the Pacers leaned on their point guard. According to the AP, Haliburton scored eight of Indiana’s 10 points in a 90-second span to erase the deficit, and the Pacers’ 15-3 run gave them a 108-104 lead.

New Orleans had one more push. Williamson tied the game at 116 with a driving layup and a free throw, but Haliburton scored on power moves on Indiana’s next two trips to make it 121-118, and Quenton Jackson’s two free throws closed it out. The official report also shows Haliburton picking up a technical foul with 7:08 left in the fourth.

Zion Williamson’s 3-point surprise

The most unusual moment for New Orleans came late in the first half. The AP noted that Williamson took only four 3-pointers all of last season and made one. On Wednesday, left open late in the second quarter, he hit back-to-back 3s from the wings, and he scored the final eight points of the half, capped by a long jumper at the buzzer, as the Pelicans won the second quarter 35-18.

Bennedict Mathurin vs. his old team

Mathurin, now with New Orleans, came off the bench for 11 points and three rebounds in nearly 18 minutes, according to the official report, which explains why his name trended alongside the game.

Who was out

Indiana’s inactive list included Furphy (right knee, ACL surgery), McConnell and Nesmith (both hamstring strains), per the official report. New Orleans’ inactives were two-way players assigned to the G League.

Where to watch

The searches “how to watch pacers game tonight” and “where to watch pacers vs new orleans pelicans” spiked before tip-off. The game has ended; full replays and condensed games are typically available on NBA League Pass, and highlights are on NBA.com’s game page.

FAQ

Who won Pacers vs. Pelicans? The Pacers won 123-120 in New Orleans on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

How did Tyrese Haliburton play in his return? 23 points and 12 assists in his first regular-season game since rupturing his right Achilles 16 months ago.

Who led the Pacers in scoring? Pascal Siakam, with 30 points.

Who led the Pelicans? Dejounte Murray had 23 points and Zion Williamson 22.

What’s next? The AP recap said the Pelicans visit Utah on Friday night.