Sheppard (calf) registered 12 points (4-7 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and one rebound across 19 minutes in Wednesday's 112-110 loss to the Magic.
Sheppard had started in six of his prior eight appearances before missing time due to a calf strain, but the third-year wing was deployed off the bench Wednesday in his return from an 11-game absence. He provided the Pacers with some quality scoring on the second unit, but his stat line was otherwise lacking in supplementary production. With Indiana now as healthy as it's been all season on the wing and at point guard, Sheppard may not have the opportunity to see his minutes pick up even once he's fully ramped back up from the calf injury.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Available against Magic
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Sheppard (calf) is available for Wednesday's game against the Magic.
Sheppard was last seen during the Dec. 3 loss to the Nuggets, but he's recovered from a left calf strain and is ready for game action. With the Pacers a bit healthier now than they were the last time Sheppard was available, the guard is ticketed for a reserve role Wednesday. Sheppard has averaged 5.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23.3 minutes per tilt across 11 games off the bench this season.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Iffy for Wednesday
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Sheppard (calf) is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Magic.
Sheppard hasn't appeared in a game since suffering a Grade 1 calf strain Dec. 3, but he's currently listed as day-to-day. If he's able to give it a go Wednesday, the Pacers will likely monitor his minutes closely.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Won't play Monday
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Sheppard is out for Monday's game against the Rockets due to a left calf strain.
The Pacers had initially upgraded Sheppard to questionable before ruling out the guard, suggesting his return is imminent. With Sheppard out Monday, T.J. McConnell should pick up a few extra minutes in the Indiana backcourt.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Remains out indefinitely
Rotowire
Sheppard (calf) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Pelicans.
Sheppard sustained a Grade 1 left calf strain Dec. 3 and will miss his sixth consecutive contest Saturday. The 24-year-old wing is without a clear timeline to return to the court.
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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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Excels against Thunder
Rotowire
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: Drops 14 in win
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Sheppard logged 14 points (5-10 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and three rebounds over 29 minutes during Sunday's 129-109 victory over Cleveland in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
With Bennedict Mathurin tossed after only one minute of action, Sheppard stepped up and played well in the Game 4 blowout win, submitting easily his best performance of the 2025 playoffs. The 23-year-old guard saw 29 minutes off the bench, with head coach Rick Carlisle pulling the starters early after getting out to a 41-point lead. In the seven games he's played in this postseason, the Belmont product has averaged 3.6 points and 1.7 rebounds per game, shooting 42.9 percent from the floor and 31.3 percent from deep.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Ruled out vs. Cleveland
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Sheppard (toe) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Cavaliers, Tony East of WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis reports.
Sheppard will miss a fifth straight game for the Pacers on Sunday, as he continues to deal with a toe injury. Andrew Nembhard will be the starter at shooting guard for Indiana, with Aaron Nesmith and Johnny Furphy likely picking up the slack off the bench in Cleveland.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Won't play against Orlando
Rotowire
Sheppard (toe) is out for Friday's game versus the Magic.
Sheppard will miss his fourth straight contest Friday after being downgraded from doubtful to out due to a sprained left toe. Sheppard's next chance to suit up is Sunday's regular-season finale against Cleveland.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Iffy to play Thursday
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Sheppard (toe) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against Cleveland, Tony East of WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis reports.
Sheppard is in jeopardy of missing a third straight game due to a sprained left toe, and his decision on his availability will be made closer to Thursday's 7:00 p.m. ET tipoff. Jarace Walker and Bennedict Mathurin would continue to see increased playing time if Sheppard is ruled out.
