Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton to return Thursday after missing 10 games ...

Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton will return to the Pacers lineup on Thursday, the team announced. Here’s what you need to know:

• Haliburton has missed the last 10 games with a left elbow sprain and a mild left knee bone contusion.
• The 22-year-old is averaging 20.2 points and 10.2 assists per game for the Pacers this season. His assist average is No. 1 in the NBA.
• Indiana went 1-9 with Haliburton on the bench and sit in 10th place (24-28) in the Eastern Conference.
• Haliburton was named to the Eastern Conference reserves for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.

Haliburton, the league’s assist leader, is back in the lineup tonight, and not a moment too soon. Since the Pacers guard suffered a sprained left elbow against the Knicks on Jan. 11, Indiana has lost 10 of 11 games heading into tonight’s matchup against the Lakers in Indianapolis. It’s a big night for Haliburton; not only will he be returning to the court, but around the 7:10 p.m. ET tip time, he will learn that he made the All-Star team as a reserve.

Prior to tonight’s game, Haliburton said he was more concerned with his return to the court than the All-Star announcement.

“It’s just exciting to be able to have control over the outcomes of games,” he said. “Just being able to compete and be on the sidelines not being able to help guys, that sucks because we fight for each other. We’re brothers and teammates. Just excited to go and share the floor with those guys again.” — Kravitz

(Photo: Dylan Buell/Getty Images)