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:
How long is Tyrese Haliburton out?
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."
Tyrese Haliburton injury history
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."
How Tyrese Haliburton's latest injury impacts Pacers
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?
