Is Tyrese Haliburton playing tonight against Atlanta Hawks? Exploring 2x All-Star's status for preseason opener (Oct. 8)

Tyrese Haliburton is expected to suit up in the Indiana Pacers' preseason opener against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. The two-time NBA All-Star is not on the Pacers' injury report. Haliburton ended last season with a hamstring injury, which bothered him during his stint with Team USA this summer in Paris.

However, he didn't play heavy minutes and has recovered fully in time for the start of the new season. Haliburton also participated in the Pacers' intra-team scrimmage on Sunday and should be good to go unless Indiana chooses to rest him in a last-minute decision.

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Tyrese Haliburton gunning to prove Pacers' ECF run wasn't a fluke

Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers unexpectedly made the Eastern Conference finals last year. They prevailed against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and the New York Knicks in the second. However, the Pacers failed to get past the eventual champions Boston Celtics in the conference finals.

Indiana didn't face a healthy Bucks unit or a healthy Knicks team, as Milwaukee missed Giannis Antetokounmpo, while New York was without Julius Randle. OG Anunoby also got injured during the series, while Jalen Brunson exited Game 7 with a wrist injury.

The Pacers' success was instantly deemed a fluke after they won against shorthanded teams but couldn't get the job done against the Celtics. Haliburton is looking to change that narrative this year by replicating the team's success.

"We don't need to talk about it," Haliburton said on Media Day. "We just need to be about it."

The Pacers have retained most of their roster from that run, re-signing Pascal Siakam to a four-year, $189.5 million deal. Meanwhile, Bennedict Mathurin is back after missing most of last season with a shoulder issue.

Indiana stacks up well against most teams because of its offensive potential, with Tyrese Haliburton running the show. The group has gained significant experience from last year's run, so it won't be a surprise if the Pacers do manage another ECF run.

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How to watch Pacers-Hawks preseason game?

NBA TV will nationally cover the Pacers-Hawks preseason game. Bally Sports Southeast and Bally Sports Indiana will provide coverage in local areas. NBA League Pass is an online streaming option for viewers outside Indiana and Atlanta. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, the Hawks' homecourt.