Andrew Nembhard has wasted no time stepping into a bigger role for the Indiana Pacers.
With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined by a hamstring strain and listed week-to-week, Nembhard has piled up 40 points and 23 assists across his last two games. That stretch included 18 points and 14 assists in Wednesday’s 114-109 home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, then 22 points and nine assists in 30 minutes Friday in Miami, where Indiana fell 145-125 to the Heat.
Nembhard was especially sharp early against the Heat, scoring 17 of his 22 points before halftime. He shot 8-of-16 from the field and 5-of-8 from 3-point range, and three of Jay Huff’s four first-quarter baskets came on passes from Nembhard.
The strong run came after a brief injury scare of his own. He missed a game after hurting his neck in the Oct. 25 matchup at Brooklyn, then was held out of the next night’s game at Milwaukee because Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said he was dealing with a back issue.
Kelly Oubre Jr. started in his place in Indiana’s 110-102 loss. Nembhard returned against Philadelphia and had 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep in the win over the Nets before that.
Before the Heat game, Indiana listed him as probable with neck stiffness and soreness.
For Carlisle, the focus is simple: keep the available players upright until more help returns.
"He's a great player and his versatility is really special," Carlisle said. "He's terrific as an off-guard that can make plays, but he's obviously a natural point guard. He had a lot of opportunities to show that last year with (Haliburton) out."
Haliburton’s absence is a major one. He tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder and missed all of 2025-26. When he was out last season, Nembhard became a full-time starter and posted career highs of 16.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in 31.3 minutes over 57 games.
Indiana also went through long losing stretches during that season, dropping 13 straight from December into January and 16 straight from February into March.
Now 26 and in his fifth season, Nembhard was the 31st pick out of Gonzaga in 2022. He also sat out Canada’s most recent FIBA World Cup qualifying window to focus on the NBA season.
Haliburton had played four games this season before the hamstring injury. On Wednesday, Carlisle called it a mild left hamstring strain, said Haliburton is week-to-week, and said he would provide an update in two weeks. He added that he did not think it was realistic for Haliburton to play before then.
T.J. McConnell is also out with a hamstring strain, and Quenton Jackson scored 24 points off the bench in Miami.
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