Siakam and Haliburton lead the Pacers past the Pelicans, 123-120

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 30 points, including 12 in the final quarter, Tyrese Haliburton added 23 points and 12 assists in his first regular-season game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon 16 months ago and the Indiana Pacers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-120 on Wednesday night.

With Indiana trailing 92-86 entering the fourth, Haliburton took charge in the fourth quarter, scoring eight of Indiana’s 10 points in a 90-second span to erase a 101-93 Pelicans lead. The Pacers outscored New Orleans 15-3 to take a 108-104 edge.

Zion Williamson, who had 22 points, tied the game at 116 on a driving layup and foul shot, but Haliburton scored on power moves on the next two trips down the court, and Indiana took a 121-118 lead and closed out the game with a pair of free throws by Quenton Jackson.

Obi Toppin added 20 points for Indiana, and Ivica Zubac added 16 points and 14 rebounds. Andrew Nembhard scored 18 points.

Dejounte Murray scored 23 points for the Pelicans, and Yves Missi had 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Williamson took only four 3-pointers all last season and made just one. But in offseason practices, he worked on expanding his shooting range, although most of his attention was on mid-range jumpers.

Left open by the Pacers late in the second quarter, Williamson stepped behind the arc and nailed back-to-back 3s from the right and left wings.

The Pacers jumped out to a 38-31 first-quarter lead on 59% shooting, but the Pelicans held Indiana to 33% shooting in a 35-18 second quarter that gave New Orleans a 66-56 lead, capped by Williamson’s long-range jumper at the buzzer. Williamson scored the final eight points of the half.

Pacers: Host Milwaukee on Friday night.

Pelicans: Visit Utah on Friday night.

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New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (21) blocks the shot of Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) slaps hands with guard Jeremiah Fears during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Indiana Pacers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (10) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey (41) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (21) defends against Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) wipes his eye at the end of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Damian Lillard is back, in more ways than one.

The star guard played his first regular-season game with the Trail Blazers since returning to Portland in the summer of 2025, scoring 25 points with six 3-pointers in a 124-83 rout of the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.

Lillard spent some 16 months rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon he sustained with the Milwaukee Bucks.

“I did feel good, but you know I've felt good for months now, and I've been saying that. But I think there's probably some people that might have been skeptical because they hadn't seen me. I hadn't been out on the floor and been in front of people," Lillard said.

The nine-time All-Star was greeted with an extended standing ovation at Moda Center when he welcomed the crowd in a pregame address. A beloved figure in Portland, he clearly was missed.

“It was a lot of love. The fans showed a lot of love,” Lillard said. “I think it's no secret the relationship between myself and our fans and the city of Portland.”

New addition Ja Morant, who finished with 14 points in his Trail Blazers debut, was impressed.

“You know, for me today it was, the guy hasn't played in 18 months, and he comes out and delivered the way he did for us," Morant said. "Special, man.”

Lillard signed a three-year, $42 million deal to rejoin the Blazers in July 2025 after spending two seasons with the Bucks. He had spent the first 11 seasons of his career with Portland.

Lillard averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists in his final season with the Bucks, but he played only 58 games because of deep vein thrombosis. For his career, Lillard has averaged 25.1 points and 6.7 assists.

“Coming back off of a major injury, getting back healthy, and making it to this day, being a part of a really good team — at a different time for the Trail Blazers than my last stint with the team — it just felt great to be embraced and welcomed,” Lillard said.

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Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reaches for a loose ball against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard looks up at the clock against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)