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: 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: 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.
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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.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Quiet in 20 minutes
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Sheppard notched five points (2-6 FG, 1-5 3Pt), one rebound, one assist and one steal across 20 minutes during Monday's 108-103 loss to the Cavaliers.
Sheppard continues to see a decent-sized role for the Pacers, but his production has left a lot to be desired. Over his last seven appearances, Sheppard has averaged 6.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 three-pointers in 19.1 minutes, hitting 41.7 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from beyond the arc.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Good to go against Dallas
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Sheppard (illness) is available for Tuesday's game versus the Mavericks.
Sheppard will return to action Tuesday after missing Indiana's last two contests with a non-COVID illness. The rookie guard is averaging 9.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 18.4 minutes across his last five appearances.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Listed as questionable
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Sheppard (illness) is questionable for Tuesday's game against Dallas.
Sheppard has missed back-to-back games due to an illness. He wasn't with the team for Sunday's game in San Antonio, but he was expected to make the trip to Dallas, suggesting he has a good chance of being cleared Tuesday.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Not with team
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Sheppard (illness) isn't with the team for Sunday's game in San Antonio, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Sheppard will miss a second straight game due to an illness and join the team for Tuesday's matchup in Dallas. Bennedict Mathurin and T.J. McConnell are candidates for a few extra minutes off the bench in Sheppard's absence.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Given questionable designation
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Sheppard (illness) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Spurs.
Sheppard was a late addition to the injury report Friday and was ultimately sidelined due to an illness. Even if he's cleared to suit up, it's unclear if the rookie will have a role now that Aaron Nesmith (ankle) is healthy.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Late addition to injury report
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Sheppard is listed as questionable for Friday's game versus the Pelicans due to an illness.
Sheppard's late addition to the injury report is a bad sign of his availability for Friday's contest. If the rookie guard is ruled out, Bennedict Mathurin could receive increased playing time, though Aaron Nesmith's return (ankle) should absorb most of Sheppard's missing minutes.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Headed back to NBA
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The Pacers recalled Sheppard from the Indiana Mad Ants of the G League on Wednesday.
Sheppard will be available for Wednesday's game versus the Wizards. However, the rookie guard is unlikely to receive significant playing time.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Returns to NBA
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The Pacers recalled Sheppard from the Indiana Mad Ants of the G League on Thursday.
Sheppard will return to the Pacers alongside fellow rookie Jarace Walker. Sheppard is averaging 2.9 points in 6.6 minutes across his 14 NBA appearances this season.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Returns from G League
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The Pacers recalled Sheppard from the G League's Indiana Mad Ants on Wednesday.
Sheppard and fellow rookie first-round pick Jarace Walker both joined the G League club on Tuesday and started in the Mad Ants' 131-97 win over the Windy City Bulls. The 22-year-old shooting guard played 33 minutes in the win, finishing with 18 points (6-15 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 1-1 FT), nine rebounds, four assists and one steal. Sheppard should be available for the Pacers' next game Thursday in Miami but is unlikely to be featured in coach Rick Carlisle's rotation.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Plays 15 minutes in blowout loss
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Sheppard logged six points (2-4 FG, 2-4 3Pt), two rebounds and two assists in 15 minutes during Wednesday's 155-104 loss to Boston.
Sheppard played double-digit minutes for the first time this year and knocked down two shots from beyond the arc in the blowout loss. However, he hasn't been part of the Pacers' rotation outside of blowouts early in the season.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Plenty of volume in loss
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Sheppard recorded 15 points (6-16 FG, 3-10 3Pt), three rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes during Sunday's 127-122 preseason overtime loss to the Grizzlies.
Although Sheppard came off the bench during Sunday's matchup, he saw plenty of volume from the floor and led the Pacers in field-goal attempts. Indiana selected Sheppard with the 26th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and although Sunday's performance was encouraging, he could have some trouble carving out meaningful minutes for the Pacers once the regular season begins.
