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Tyrese Haliburton hopes to squash Damian Lillard beef over signature celebration

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton made his long-awaited return to NBA action on Wednesday, taking the court for the first time in 472 days after suffering a season-ending Achilles rupture during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The preseason matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Hilton Coliseum, the home of his college team Iowa State University, marked a pivotal moment for Haliburton, who had been sidelined since pushing Oklahoma City Thunder to a historic seven-game Finals series despite being heavy underdogs.

Meanwhile, Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard also returned from injury in a preseason game, where he appeared to reclaim his form after a similar Achilles setback, drawing comparisons to his prime years. The two players’ parallel comebacks have reignited discussions about their competitive dynamic, with Haliburton reportedly aiming to move past any lingering tensions over past interactions on the court.

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