Homecoming: Haliburton’s triumphant return to Ames

Tyrese Haliburton (0) dribbles past Timberwolves player Ayo Dosunmu (13). Indiana Pacers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves at Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa, Oct. 7, 2026. AMES — When Tyrese Haliburton graduated from high school, he dreamed of getting minutes in a college basketball game at Hilton Coliseum. Never did he think that he would someday have the pull to bring an NBA game to Ames. Years later, that is what he was able to do. Wednesday night, Haliburton stepped onto the court at Hilton for the first time since he fractured his wrist as a sophomore in 2020 for an NBA preseason game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Indiana Pacers. “It’s obviously the loudest pre-season game I’ve ever been a part of,” Haliburton said. “I had a lot of fun.” Throughout the day, Haliburton and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle praised the Timberwolves players and staff for agreeing to schedule the game in Ames. “It was dope,” Timberwolves player Terrance Shannon Jr. said. “It was packed in there. Good fans, I feel like it was good for us.” Haliburton has come back to Ames several times, most recently for friend and former teammate Georges Niang’s Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame induction, but never to play a game. It was the first NBA game Haliburton played in since he tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, a heartbreaking ending to a phenomenal playoff run. Though Indianapolis lost the game to the Thunder after the injury, throughout the playoffs, the former Cyclone cemented himself as a star. “I can’t open social media without seeing something from that playoff series,” Haliburton said. “It’ll always be a part of me and who I am.” Before tip-off, it had been 472 days since Haliburton’s last NBA game. His playmaking abilities looked like he had not taken a day off, though. Haliburton was dishing out opportunities left and right. He finished the game with seven points and six assists in 16 minutes played. The Pacers won the preseason contest 123-112. It was a wild atmosphere Wednesday night, which was contributed to by a donation made by Haliburton. Before the event, it was announced that Haliburton had paid for student tickets to fill Cyclone Alley. “I know how important the student section is to this university,” Haliburton said. “I wanted everyone to be able to have a fair shake and a fair opportunity to come.” Student holders of the all-sports pass had the opportunity to enter a lottery for the chance to receive one ticket. Hours before the game, a line of students was wrapped around the arena, hoping to get the best seats possible when the doors opened. The crowd was extremely loyal to Haliburton. When he first took the floor, over an hour before tip-off, he started taking short shots from the block. Despite the fact that they were routine, fundamental, warm-up shots, the students already in the seats went nuts with every shot he made. “What an atmosphere,” Carlisle said. “I mean, for a preseason game? The whole way though, it felt like an NBA playoff game. Hats off to the Iowa State students. Unbelievable showing. It was very high-level heckling.” Haliburton came out for lineups wearing No. 22, his number at Iowa State, getting a huge roar from the crowd. He switched to No. 0 for the game. The return started on a high note. Haliburton knocked a deep two down for the Pacers’ first bucket of the game, and got an early block on Jaden McDaniels to force a shot clock violation. Haliburton had limited minutes in the first quarter, and the Pacers led 32-27 at the break. Minnesota’s star duo of Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball brought it in the first quarter, with eight and 11 points, respectively. While the game was technically a home game for the Pacers, Ames is significantly closer to Minneapolis than Indianapolis. While the crowd certainly favored the Pacers, it was much more of a split crowd than usual in Hilton. The starters were out of the game for most of the second half, as is typical in the NBA preseason, but the game remained close into the fourth quarter and gave fans something to stick around for. When it comes down to it, Haliburton is a Cyclone for life. Early in the fourth quarter, the fans celebrated with a customary “Juicy Wiggle,” an Iowa State tradition, and Haliburton could not resist joining in a little on the bench. $6,633 $10,000 Contributed Our Goal Your donation will support the student journalists of the Iowa State Daily. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment, send our student journalists to conferences and off-set their cost of living so they can continue to do best-in-the-nation work at the Iowa State Daily. For donation amounts over $500, please contact [email protected] or send a check to 612 Farmhouse Ln., Ames IA 50011. About the Contributors Noah LaBlanc is a senior at Iowa State University studying marketing and management. This is his third year with the Iowa State Daily. In his free time, he enjoys training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Caden Davis is a fourth-year student at Iowa State University, majoring in entrepreneurship. This is his second year at the Iowa State Daily, previously as a photojournalist. He spends his free time with friends and family or taking photos.