The Indiana Pacers are on the verge of getting a key piece of their offense back, as Bennedict Mathurin is inching closer to a return. The second-year guard has officially been listed as questionable for tomorrow’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks - a promising sign considering how the Pacers have managed injury designations this season. According to recent trends, when Indiana bumps a player to “questionable” after a multi-game absence, it’s often a signal that a return to the floor is imminent.
Mathurin has missed the past 11 games after exiting early during a January 2 game against the San Antonio Spurs with a right thumb sprain. Initially, he tried to play through the injury, but the Pacers ultimately opted to shut him down to allow for proper healing. That thumb issue followed an earlier setback this season, when Mathurin missed 11 of Indiana’s first 13 games due to a big toe sprain.
Despite the injuries, Mathurin has been a major offensive contributor when available. He’s currently second on the team in scoring, averaging a career-best 17.8 points per game - just behind Pascal Siakam and narrowly ahead of Andrew Nembhard. His ability to create offense both in transition and in the halfcourt has been sorely missed, and his return could provide a timely boost as Indiana looks to solidify its place in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Around the League: More Injury Updates
In Houston, the Rockets got some reassuring news on Jalen Green after the young guard exited early from Friday’s game against the Suns. An MRI revealed no new damage, according to head coach Jordan Ott, who called the results “great news.” Green participated in a workout and will be monitored on a day-to-day basis moving forward.
Green has been trying to shake off a nagging hamstring issue, but his recent attempts to return have been stop-and-start. Twice now, he’s made it through one full game, only to exit the next after just a few minutes.
Ott acknowledged the frustration, saying Green was feeling strong late in the third quarter before things took a turn. “That’s why you take an image, that’s why you see what it feels like the next day,” Ott said.
“He’s an incredible healer and a guy that’s going to do everything it takes to play the next one, so that’s encouraging.”
Meanwhile in Memphis, Ty Jerome is nearing his season debut for the Grizzlies. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo shared that Jerome has already progressed to full five-on-five live play - a key milestone in any rehab process.
“We’re very close,” Iisalo said. “The evaluation is somewhere within one or two weeks.
He still needs to build a little bit of load before actual games, but he’s doing great.”
Jerome signed a three-year deal with Memphis this past offseason after a breakout campaign in Cleveland, where he averaged 12.5 points and 3.4 assists in under 20 minutes per game and finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting. His return would add much-needed depth and scoring punch to a Grizzlies backcourt that’s been hit hard by injuries all season.
In Detroit, Cade Cunningham is managing a wrist injury that’s affecting his shooting hand - a tough ask for any player, especially one tasked with carrying a heavy offensive load. Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff acknowledged the challenge, noting that it’s “not easy what he’s going through.” Cunningham, for his part, is trying to strike the right balance between rest, treatment, and staying on the court.
Cunningham said he felt good heading into Sunday’s game against the Kings, and he’s hopeful he’s turned a corner. “It’s been a battle, mentally,” he admitted.
“Figuring out how I can help us, not liking how I felt shooting, and just constantly flinching because I didn’t know how it would feel.” He believes the injury dates back to a fall against Cleveland on January 4, which was aggravated the next night against the Knicks.
The good news? The team doesn’t believe playing through it will make it worse - unless he takes another direct hit.
For now, it’s all about pain tolerance and finding a rhythm.
Bottom Line
Across the league, several teams are inching closer to full strength - or at least getting key contributors back in the mix. For the Pacers, Mathurin’s potential return could re-ignite one of the league’s most dynamic young offenses.
In Houston, Green’s clean MRI is a sigh of relief. In Memphis, Jerome’s debut could be just around the corner.
And in Detroit, Cunningham continues to grind through adversity, trying to lead a struggling team while managing a tricky injury.
As the season hits its mid-winter grind, these updates aren’t just about health - they’re about momentum, chemistry, and the small windows that can define a team’s trajectory.