The Indiana Pacers open their home schedule Friday night at 7 p.m. against the Dallas Mavericks, and the spotlight will be squarely on Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It will be Tyrese Haliburton’s first official game back there since Game 6 of the NBA Finals, a moment that has been building all week.
But the injury report is already shaping the feel of the night.
T.J. McConnell has been ruled out again with a right hamstring strain, keeping the Pacers backup point guard sidelined after being out since the start of training camp. There is still no clear timetable for his return.
Aaron Nesmith, who missed Wednesday’s season opener against the Pelicans, has moved from out to questionable with a left hamstring strain. That upgrade usually points toward a return, and if he plays, it would give Indiana an important boost on the wing.
Another new name showed up for the Pacers on Thursday: Ben Sheppard. He left the team’s 123-120 win over New Orleans late in the third quarter and did not come back. He is listed as questionable with knee soreness.
Johnny Furphy remains out as he continues rehabbing the torn ACL he suffered in February against the Toronto Raptors. Some websites have listed him as out for the season, but that is not accurate. The expectation is that he will be healthy around the midway point of the season.
Dallas comes in shorthanded of its own, especially in the front court. Dereck Lively II is still working back from foot surgery from last season, and despite hopes he would be ready for training camp, he remains behind schedule in his rehab.
The Mavericks will also be without Santi Aldama, who the team acquired in the offseason. He is still recovering from an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee that ended his 2025-26 season in March. Coach Dusty May said he has been limited in practice, and the expectation is that he won’t be out too long.
Also ruled out for Dallas are Caleb Martin with a right thumb sprain and Tarik Biberovic with right heel bursitis. Jett Howard is questionable with right calf tightness/soreness.
In Other News...
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Kyrie Irvings Return Left Mavericks Fans With One Immediate Concern
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The game itself offered a mixed early read on that partnership, especially with reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg now in the mix. Irving was on the floor for only 24 minutes and never returned for the fourth quarter in the loss to Houston, leaving the Mavericks with one obvious question to carry into the next stretch of the season: how quickly can this version of the team get its best players on the same page? [Read more 🡒]