Watch Tyrese Haliburton get into it with Derik Queen, draw technical in Pacers' season opener

After getting into a war of words with Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins in the Pacers' final preseason game, Tyrese Haliburton has found himself in the regular season opener.

Haliburton was given a technical foul with 7:08 to go in the fourth quarter due to something he said to Pelicans big man Derik Queen on the way to the bench for a timeout. The Pacers had scored a basket after Haliburton found Pascal Siakam, who lobbed to Ivica Zubac for a dunk to cut New Orleans' lead to 101-100.

Haliburton, who had traded words and looks with Queen for multiple possessions, said something to the second-year player that caused Queen to approach the Pacers' sideline. Pacers forward Jalen Slawson and multiple coaches got in between Haliburton and Queen, and several Pelicans players walked from their side of the floor to Indiana's.

Derik Queen and Tyrese Haliburton exchanging pleasantries pic.twitter.com/ELbVW9ba3I

— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) October 22, 2026

Following the timeout, officials reviewed the situation and deemed Haliburton the only player worthy of a technical foul. Trey Murphy III made the free throw for New Orleans.

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Pacers coach Rick Carlisle promised a physical game, and it's delivered. Pelicans big Derik Queen just had words with the entire Pacers team.

— GreggDoyelStar (@GreggDoyelStar) October 22, 2026