Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Slated to miss multiple weeks
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Coach Rick Carlisle said Sunday that Sheppard (oblique) will miss multiple weeks, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.
An MRI showed Sheppard's injury is worse than initially anticipated, so he'll join Andrew Nembhard (knee) and Aaron Nesmith (ankle) on the long-term injury list. Quenton Jackson has been the next man up, while Bennedict Mathurin continues to excel as a starter. Sheppard will likely be evaluated again around Christmas.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Another absence coming
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Sheppard (oblique) is out for Sunday's game against the Wizards.
Sheppard will miss a fourth consecutive contest with this oblique injury, and there's no timetable for when he'll return to the court. Jarace Walker and Quenton Jackson will continue to see more time at the small forward role, as the Pacers remain very depleted in terms of their wing depth. Sheppard's next chance to play will come against the Pelicans on Monday on the second half of a back-to-back set.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Sidelined once again
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Sheppard (oblique) is out for Friday's game against the Bucks, Tony East of SI.com reports.
Sheppard is set to miss a third straight contest with this oblique injury, and while the questionable tag prior to the game shows progress, he's still not ready to return to the hardwood. Expect Jarace Walker and Quenton Jackson to see bigger roles with Sheppard out in a thin wing rotation for Indiana.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Questionable for Friday
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Sheppard (oblique) is questionable for Friday's game against the Bucks.
Sheppard has missed the last two games for the Pacers, and while the questionable tag is encouraging, he could end up missing a third straight contest. If that's the case, then Jarace Walker (illness) and Quenton Jackson would be in line for bigger roles in Indiana's depleted wing rotation.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Out again Wednesday
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Sheppard (oblique) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against Houston, Jeremiah Johnson of Bally Sports Indiana reports.
Sheppard will miss a second straight game due to the left oblique strain. The second-year wing has been a consistent shooter for the Pacers this season, connecting on 40.4 percent of his 3.6 three-point attempts per game. In his absence Wednesday, Jarace Walker and Quenton Jackson are candidates to handle enlarged roles.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Questionable for Wednesday
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Sheppard (oblique) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Rockets.
The 23-year-old guard missed Monday's loss to the Raptors due to a left oblique strain, though coach Rick Carlisle said Tuesday that he does not expect the injury to turn into a long-term absence, according to Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. If Sheppard is unable to return Wednesday, Jarace Walker, Quenton Jackson and T.J. McConnell could see an uptick in playing time.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Likely to avoid lengthy absence
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Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said Sheppard (oblique) could be available to return to action Wednesday against the Rockets, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Sheppard missed Monday's 130-119 loss to the Raptors with a left oblique strain, and though injuries of this sort can often lead to multi-week absences, Carlisle said that the second-year wing's oblique issue isn't particularly serious. While Carlisle wasn't willing to formally commit to Sheppard being ready to play Wednesday, the coach suggested that the 23-year-old is a good bet to return to the lineup no later than Friday (at Milwaukee) or Sunday (vs. Washington). Jarace Walker moved up to the top unit Monday as a replacement for Sheppard, who had started in each of Indiana's preceding five contests and averaged 4.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 three-pointers and 0.8 steals in 27.0 minutes.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Out against Toronto
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Sheppard (oblique) won't play against the Raptors on Monday, Jeremiah Johnson of Bally Sports Indiana reports.
Sheppard suffered a left oblique strain Sunday against the Heat and was unable to return. In the meantime, T.J. McConnell, Jarace Walker and Quenton Jackson are candidates to see increased reps for the Pacers, as Aaron Nesmith (ankle) and Andrew Nembhard (knee) also remain sidelined.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Won't return vs. Miami
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Sheppard has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Heat due to a left oblique strain, Scott Agness of FieldhouseFiles.com reports.
Sheppard strained his left oblique during the third quarter of Sunday's game, and he'll finish with three points, three rebounds, one assist and one block over 26 minutes. T.J. McConnell and Quenton Jackson are in line to see more minutes off the bench in Sheppard's absence. Given the Pacers' upcoming schedule, Sheppard is in danger of being sidelined for the second leg of a back-to-back against the Raptors on Monday.
Sheppard will get the start in Friday's matchup with the Hornets.
With Andrew Nembhard (knee) getting the late scratch, Sheppard will start at shooting guard. The 24-year-old has averaged 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists across 26.7 minutes in seven starts this season.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Goes for 20 points in loss
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Sheppard totaled 20 points (7-12 FG, 6-11 3Pt), three rebounds and one assist in 33 minutes during Friday's 125-118 loss to the Pelicans.
Sheppard stepped up in the loss, scoring a career-high 20 points, mostly on his six triples. With Andrew Nembhard (knee) sidelined and Aaron Nesmith going down with an ankle injury, Sheppard was afforded additional playing time. While this is certainly a noteworthy performance, it appears as though he would need both players to continue missing time to have a shot at playing anywhere near 30 minutes.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Team option picked up
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The Pacers exercised Sheppard's third-year team option for the 2025-26 season Friday, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.com reports.
Sheppard will earn $2.79 million in the third season of his rookie deal. The 23-year-old wing is expected to be a fixture on the Pacers' second unit after averaging 4.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.9 three-pointers in 14.3 minutes per game across 57 appearances as a rookie in 2023-24.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Pops for 14 points Thursday
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Sheppard tallied 14 points (5-10 FG, 2-6 3PT, 2-2 FT), three steals, one rebound and one assist in 28 minutes during Thursday's 121-116 preseason win over Charlotte.
Sheppard provided the Pacers with a nice boost off the bench, something they will be hoping to see more of during the season. Although Bennedict Mathurin is likely to be the first guard off the bench, he is by no means a lock to hold down that position given his inconsistencies. Sheppard has proven an ability to be a sparkplug scorer, and should Mathurin struggle to begin the season, the coaching staff may opt to shift Sheppard up in the rotation.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Starting Game 3
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Sheppard will start Saturday's Game 3 against the Celtics, Tony East of SI.com reports.
Tyrese Haliburton (leg) has been ruled out for Game 3, and his availability for Game 4 and beyond is in jeopardy too. In 15 postseason appearances, Sheppard has averaged 5.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.2 three-pointers.
Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Drains three triples Wednesday
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Sheppard chipped in 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 3Pt) and one assist over 20 minutes during Wednesday's 130-121 loss to New York in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Sheppard continues to play meaningful minutes for the Pacers, connecting on three triples en route to 11 points. While the Pacers ended with six players logging double-digit scoring, it was still not enough to get over the hump in front of a vocal New York crowd. Sheppard should continue to serve as a three-point threat off the bench.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Returns to bench role
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Sheppard is not in the starting lineup to face the Bulls on Wednesday.
Sheppard will return to his regular bench role with Aaron Nesmith (knee) back from a one-game absence. Sheppard should see decent minutes off the bench, as he's averaging 18.8 minutes per contest this month.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Set for first career start
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Sheppard is in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Clippers.
Sheppard will fill in for Aaron Nesmith (knee). He is flanked by Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner in the starting lineup.
