The Indiana Pacers will open their season Wednesday night on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans, but they won’t have two important pieces of the rotation available.
According to the Pacers’ social media account on X, starting small forward Aaron Nesmith has been ruled out with a left hamstring strain. Nesmith also sat out the final two preseason games because of the injury, though the full extent of the issue wasn’t clear at the time. Now that he’s missing the first game of the regular season, the concern around it naturally rises.
Indiana already had a chance to test a replacement look in the preseason, and Kelly Oubre Jr. handled that role smoothly. The newly acquired small forward started in Nesmith’s place and looked comfortable with the group.
In the preseason, Oubre averaged 8.5 points in 16.5 minutes per game while shooting 52.2% from the field (12-23) and 46.2% from three (6-13). He’s still learning the Pacers’ system and terminology, but getting three preseason games with the starters gave him a useful head start.
Nesmith’s absence pushes Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard into larger bench roles at the backup two and three spots. Walker also missed the final two preseason games with an undisclosed injury, though he was not listed on the injury report.
The other absence is T.J. McConnell, who remains sidelined with a right hamstring strain. He missed all of the preseason with the injury, and the Pacers will be keeping a close eye on that situation as well.
Without McConnell, Indiana has a couple of options. The team can trim the rotation and use Andrew Nembhard as the backup point guard, or it can go deeper and give Quenton Jackson minutes with the second unit. There’s also a chance Braden Smith dresses in case the Pacers need another point guard option.
Depth is supposed to be one of the biggest strengths of this roster, but losing two key rotational players to start the season is not the kind of news Indiana wanted heading into its opener.
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Pacers New Veteran Just Reinforced What Makes This Team Different
Larry Nance Jr. is the latest veteran to land in Indianapolis, and even before the season gets rolling, he has already put a spotlight on why the Pacers keep drawing players who believe in the way the organization operates. After signing a one-year contract, Nance described the teams culture as authentic and hardworking, which fits the image Rick Carlisle and Chad Buchanan have tried to build around clear roles and a straightforward approach to the game.
Indiana has quietly continued adding experienced depth, with Kelly Oubre Jr. and Ivica Zubac also joining the roster as new veterans. James Johnson was brought in on a training camp deal before being waived ahead of the season, though there is still a possibility the Pacers could circle back to him later, another reminder that this group is still shaping itself around the kind of dependable, buy-in players that seem to thrive there. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Could Be Forced Into An Early Guard Rotation Test
T.J. McConnells preseason absence already gave the Pacers a glimpse of how thin their backcourt can look if the veteran reserve guard is unavailable. McConnell sat out all four exhibition games with a hamstring strain, and the team is still sorting through his readiness as it turns toward the opener.
Rick Carlisle has said Indiana is working on getting McConnell prepared, but the timing leaves the Pacers with an early rotation question behind Tyrese Haliburton. Quenton Jackson is expected to take on a bigger backup role if needed, and Tuesday afternoons first injury report of the season should offer the clearest update yet on how soon Indiana can count on McConnell. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Open With Two Key Absences And A Huge Haliburton Question
The Pacers will have to open the season without a couple of familiar rotation pieces, with T.J. McConnell sidelined by a right hamstring strain and Aaron Nesmith out because of a left hamstring strain. Johnny Furphy is also unavailable as he continues to come back from right ACL surgery, leaving Indiana to adjust its backcourt and wing depth before the first tip of the year.
The bigger relief for Indiana is that Tyrese Haliburton has been cleared to return and is expected to play in the opener. Even with their point guard back in the mix, the Pacers will be forced to sort out how they cover for the missing minutes around him, and the early lineup choices could tell a lot about how this team plans to manage the first stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]