The Pacers may have lost some of their early-season cushion, but Sunday showed something important: they can survive when the rotation gets thin if enough players pull their weight.
That mattered because the injury picture is already getting messy. Aaron Nesmith missed the first game of the season with a hamstring strain, and TJ McConnell is also sidelined with the same injury. Then came the bigger blow: Ivica Zubac went down with an ankle injury against the Brooklyn Nets and is expected to miss the next few weeks.
Against Brooklyn, though, Indiana answered with a useful kind of team win. Ten players logged more than 15 minutes, and the Pacers got something out of nearly every one of them in a 136 to 109 blowout. Even Larry Nance Jr., who was widely expected to be the worst player on the Pacers roster, found a way to chip in.
That kind of contribution is going to matter now more than ever. With Zubac out and McConnell’s return still up in the air, Indiana needs depth it can actually trust. The Pacers are going to need more than just strength in numbers; they’ll need strength, flexibility, heart, and commitment from all 14 players on standard deals if they’re going to keep going after losing two of their top eight players on a roster that already looked light on playable talent.
The team’s approach against the Nets is the template they’ll need to keep leaning on as they try to keep pace in the now-deadly Eastern Conference.
One obvious consequence of Zubac’s absence is the likely workload bump for backup center Jay Huff, who is expected to get the biggest jump in minutes as the direct replacement.
But he’s not the only one who could see his role expand. Pascal Siakam will likely spend more time at small center, while Obi Toppin - off to a surprisingly strong start after a truly dreadful preseason - should also pick up additional minutes as a backup big.
Still, the cleanest answer for Indiana may be collective rather than individual. If the Pacers want to solve their issues with defense and rebounding, the roster will need to buy in together. That could mean fewer fast-break chances, but it also means sending more bodies to the defensive glass so they don’t keep getting punished there the way they were for much of last season.
Losing a team’s third-best player is never simple. For Indiana, holding steady through it will require everyone doing a little more.
In Other News...
Pacers Suddenly Have A Tyrese Haliburton Problem Before 76ers Game
The Pacers injury report is suddenly carrying more weight than usual ahead of their matchup with the 76ers, and Tyrese Haliburton is right at the center of it. Indiana listed the star guard as questionable with left hamstring tightness, a development that matters even more as the team tries to build momentum after a rough previous season and continues working Haliburton back into form following his torn Achilles.
Indiana is also dealing with several other injury concerns, leaving the rotation a little more unsettled than the matchup on paper might suggest. Philadelphia, by comparison, has a shorter list of absences with four players unavailable, so the Pacers may have to manage both the game plan and the roster picture at once before they even get to tipoff. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburtons Absence Leaves Pacers Facing A Brutal Early Test
Tyrese Haliburtons left hamstring strain has put the Pacers in an early-season bind, and the bigger issue right now is the uncertainty around how long theyll have to navigate without their offensive engine. Haliburton, who signed a five-year extension in 2023, has been driving Indianas attack again this season, averaging 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists while setting the pace for everything the team wants to do.
Indiana is already dealing with another major absence, with center Ivica Zubac sidelined by a left ankle injury, which only raises the degree of difficulty for a group trying to stay afloat while key pieces heal. For the Pacers, the challenge is not just replacing production, but reworking the rhythm of a team built around Haliburtons playmaking while waiting for a clearer picture on his return. [Read more 🡒]
Pascal Siakam Had Pacers Fans Cracking Up With His Rick Carlisle Tribute
Pascal Siakam gave Pacers fans a quick laugh during a recent press conference by arriving in costume as Rick Carlisle, channeling the coach in a nod to one of Carlisles most memorable media moments from his days with the Mavericks. Siakam even taped his mouth shut to mimic Carlisles famous reaction to questions about officiating after a playoff game, turning a routine interview setting into a bit of basketball theater.
For Indiana, it was the kind of lighthearted scene that can travel fast in a season still finding its footing, with the Pacers sitting at 2-2. It also underscored how quickly Siakam has settled into the teams orbit, comfortable enough to poke fun at his coach while giving the fan base something to enjoy beyond the box score. [Read more 🡒]