Pacers' Ben Sheppard: To miss at least 10 more days
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Sheppard has a Grade 1 left calf strain and will miss at least 10 more days, Tony East of Forbes.com reports.
Sheppard is set for an extended absence due to the calf injury after averaging 6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists across 25.0 minutes per game in his first 22 regular-season appearances (11 starts). With Aaron Nesmith (knee) also sidelined, Ethan Thompson, T.J. McConnell and Garrison Mathews are candidates for increased playing time.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: No timetable for return
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Head coach Rick Carlisle said Friday that the Pacers hope Sheppard's (calf) injury isn't a long-term issue, but he remains without a timetable for return, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Carlisle said that while the team hopes it's not a long-term problem, the Pacers don't quite know the severity of Sheppard's injury yet. He's dealing with a left calf strain. T.J. McConnell, Johnny Furphy and Garrison Mathews will likely see more action until Sheppard returns.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Out with calf strain
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Sheppard is out for Friday's game against the Bulls with a left calf strain.
This is a new injury for Sheppard, who's now going to be out for the first time this season. Calf strains have a tendency to be evaluated on a week-to-week basis, but since the Pacers haven't offered a timeline for a return, Sheppard can be deemed day-to-day for the time being. His absence should enhance T.J. McConnell's streaming appeal.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Starting vs. Nuggets
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Sheppard will start Wednesday against Denver, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Starreports.
Sheppard is supplanting Jarace Walker in the starting group. Sheppard has averaged 7.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 27.5 minutes per tilt over 10 games as a starter this season.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Coming off bench Monday
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Sheppard won't start Monday's game against the Cavaliers.
The Pacers originally planned to start Sheppard on Monday, though they'll instead give Jarace Walker a chance in the first unit. Sheppard has averaged 5.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per tilt in 10 games off the bench this season.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Starting Friday
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Sheppard is in the starting lineup for Friday's matchup with the Wizards.
Sheppard has moved in and out of the starting lineup throughout the season, but how he begins the game has not impacted his statistical output all that much. Through eight starts this season, Sheppard has registered averages of 7.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game on 32/16/82 shooting splits. Sheppard is taking Andrew Nembhard's (quadriceps) spot in the starting lineup.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Returning to bench vs. Toronto
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Sheppard is not in the Pacers' starting lineup against the Raptors on Wednesday.
Sheppard has started in each of the Pacers' last three games, but he'll come off the bench Wednesday while Jarace Walker returns to the starting five. Across 12 games since Nov. 1, Sheppard has averaged 5.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.8 steals over 23.8 minutes per game while connecting on just 31.3 percent of his field-goal attempts (including 21.3 percent from three on 3.9 3PA/G).
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Starting Wednesday
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Sheppard is part of the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Hornets, Tony East of Forbes.com reports.
Jarace Walker has struggled recently, and Sheppard will supplant Walker in the first unit for Wednesday's contest. In five starts this season, Sheppard has averaged 8.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists across 28.6 minutes per game.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Minimal impact in loss
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Sheppard provided four points (2-7 FG, 0-4 3Pt), four rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal over 29 minutes during Monday's 127-112 loss to the Pistons.
Although he played 29 minutes, Sheppard saw his role decrease with the return of Bennedict Mathurin (toe). Sheppard started purely out of necessity earlier in the season, but now that the team is slowly getting healthier, Sheppard is no longer needed in the starting lineup, and his usage has taken a hit as a result.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Retreating to bench Tuesday
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Sheppard won't start Tuesday's game against the Jazz.
With Aaron Nesmith (forearm) back in action, Sheppard will slide to the second unit against Utah. Over five appearances off the bench this season, the 24-year-old guard has averaged 6.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 24.8 minutes per contest.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Back in starting lineup
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Sheppard will start Sunday's game against the Warriors.
Sheppard will get his fifth start of the season Sunday as the Pacers continue to be decimated by injuries. In his previous four starts, he averaged 9.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 29.0 minutes per contest.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Retreating to bench Saturday
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Sheppard won't start in Saturday's game against the Nuggets.
With Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) back in action, Sheppard will come off the bench against Denver. Over four regular-season appearances in the second unit, the 24-year-old guard has averaged 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 25.3 minutes per contest.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Starting Wednesday
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Sheppard is part of the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nets.
Sheppard will make his fourth start of the season, stepping into the point guard role Wednesday with the Pacers down several key guards. He averaged 6.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists across 27 minutes in his previous three starts.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Muted output in loss
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Sheppard contributed five points (2-5 FG, 1-2 3Pt), one rebound, two assists and one steal in 20 minutes during Monday's 117-115 loss to the Bucks.
Sheppard has been unable to take advantage of the opportunity, considering the Pacers are dealing with an unforeseen slew of injuries, as he has yet to eclipse double digits in scoring since Opening Night. However, with Quenton Jackson, who replaced him in the starting lineup, questionable to play Wednesday with a hamstring injury, Sheppard may find himself in a significant ballhandling role once again.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Demoted to bench Friday
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Sheppard will come off the bench in Friday's game against the Hawks.
The winless Pacers are searching for answers for their sizable void at point guard, and Quenton Jackson will usurp Sheppard in the starting lineup. Sheppard has averaged 8.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 30.0 minutes per contest across four games this season. While his streaming value likely takes a slight hit, Sheppard should still play a key role Friday.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Pulls down eight rebounds in loss
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Sheppard supplied four points (1-7 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds and two assists over 25 minutes during Wednesday's 107-105 loss to the Mavericks.
Sheppard has taken over as the team's starting point guard ever since a slew of injuries hit Indiana's backcourt. He's surprisingly contributed in the rebound department, averaging 6.8 boards this season. Backup RayJ Dennis, who is on a two-way contract, has been outplaying Sheppard as the team's facilitator and is a candidate to potentially replace him in the starting lineup if Sheppard does not improve his production. However, that all hinges on whether or not Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) returns to action soon.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Plays 24 minutes in start
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Sheppard finished Saturday's 128-103 loss to Memphis with nine points (4-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt), five rebounds, three assists and one steal in 24 minutes.
Sheppard got the start at point guard for Andrew Nembhard (shoulder), but Indiana lost their second consecutive game to begin the 2025-26 campaign. The 24-year-old, now in his third year in the NBA, was solid after racking up 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in the season opener. If Nembhard remains out, Sheppard should continue to see an uptick in minutes when the Pacers visit the Timberwolves on Sunday.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Starting sans Nembhard
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Sheppard will start in Saturday's game against the Grizzlies.
With Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) sidelined, Sheppard will get the starting nod at point guard against Memphis. The 24-year-old recorded 15 points (5-11 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal in 39 minutes before fouling out of Thursday's season-opening double-overtime loss to the Thunder.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Excels against Thunder
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Sheppard closed with 15 points (5-11 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal in 39 minutes before fouling out of Thursday's 141-135 double-overtime loss to Oklahoma City.
Sheppard was an afterthought in fantasy leagues during the 2024-25 regular season with averages of 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.1 three-pointers in 19.5 minutes per game, but he looked like a completely new player Thursday. The Pacers are already shorthanded, and Andrew Nembhard left this game early with a shoulder injury. With how involved Sheppard was Thursday, he could have streaming value if Nembhard is forced to miss additional games.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Returns to full practice
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Sheppard (undisclosed) practiced in full Wednesday, Tony East of WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis reports.
Sheppard missed Indiana's past three exhibitions due to undisclosed reasons, but his full participation Wednesday suggests that he's now in the clear. It's likely that he will get some reps in Friday's exhibition against the Spurs, especially with T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Johnny Furphy (ankle), Quenton Jackson (hamstring) and Kam Jones (back) banged up.
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