Pacers' Haliburton expected back vs. Lakers after 10-game absence

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers after missing 10 games with elbow and knee injuries, according to head coach Rick Carlisle.

The point guard suffered the injuries after sustaining a fall in a Jan. 11 loss to the New York Knicks.

Indiana has gone just 1-9 without its best player in the fold, producing the NBA's second-worst net rating over that stretch. By contrast, the Pacers are 22-17 in games he's started and finished this season.

The 22-year-old is putting up career-best numbers this season, averaging 20.2 points and a league-best 10.2 assists per game while making 39.9% of his 3-pointers.

As a result, Haliburton is in line to make his first All-Star appearance.