Ben Sheppard Injury News & Updates

Sheppard has a Grade 1 left calf strain and will miss at least 10 more days, Tony East of Forbes.com reports.

Sheppard is set for an extended absence due to the calf injury after averaging 6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists across 25.0 minutes per game in his first 22 regular-season appearances (11 starts). With Aaron Nesmith (knee) also sidelined, Ethan Thompson, T.J. McConnell and Garrison Mathews are candidates for increased playing time.

Head coach Rick Carlisle said Friday that they hope Sheppard's (calf) injury isn't long-term, but he remains without a timetable for return, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Carlisle said that while the team hopes it's not a long-term issue, they don't quite know the severity of the injury yet. He's dealing with a left calf strain. T.J. McConnell, Johnny Furphy and Garrison Mathews should continue to see more action.

Sheppard is out for Friday's game against the Bulls with a left calf strain.

This is a new injury for Sheppard, who's now going to be out for the first time this season. Calf strains have a tendency to be evaluated on a week-to-week basis, but the since the Pacers haven't offered a timeline for a return, Sheppard can be deemed day-to-day for the time being. His absence should enhance T.J. McConnell's streaming appeal.

Sheppard will start Wednesday against Denver, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Starreports.

Sheppard is supplanting Jarace Walker from the starting group. Sheppard has averaged 7.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 27.5 minutes per tilt over 10 games as a starter this season.

Sheppard won't start Monday's game against the Cavaliers.

The Pacers originally planned to start Sheppard on Monday, though they'll instead give Jarace Walker a chance in the first unit. Sheppard has averaged 5.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per tilt in 10 games off the bench this season.

Sheppard is in the starting lineup for Friday's matchup with the Wizards.

Sheppard has moved in and out of the starting lineup throughout the season, but how he begins the game has not impacted his statistical output all that much. Through eight starts this season, Sheppard has registered averages of 7.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game on 32/16/82 shooting splits.

Sheppard is not in the Pacers' starting lineup against the Raptors on Wednesday.

Sheppard has started in each of the Pacers' last three games, but he'll come off the bench Wednesday while Jarace Walker returns to the starting five. Across 12 games since Nov. 1, Sheppard has averaged 5.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.8 steals over 233.8 minutes per game while connecting on just 31.3 percent of his field-goal attempts (including 21.3 percent from three on 3.9 3PA/G).

Sheppard is part of the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Hornets, Tony East of Forbes.com reports.

Jarace Walker has struggled recently, and Sheppard will supplant Walker in the first unit for Wednesday's contest. In five starts this season, Sheppard is averaging 8.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists across 28.6 minutes.

Sheppard provided four points (2-7 FG, 0-4 3Pt), four rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal over 29 minutes during Monday's 127-112 loss to the Pistons.

Although he played 29 minutes, Sheppard saw his role decrease with the return of Bennedict Mathurin (toe). He started purely out of necessity earlier in the season, but now that the team is slowly getting healthier, Sheppard is no longer needed in the starting lineup, and his usage has taken a hit as a result.

Sheppard won't start Tuesday's game against the Jazz.

With Aaron Nesmith (forearm) back in action, Sheppard will slide to the second unit against Utah. Over five appearances off the bench this season, the 24-year-old guard has averaged 6.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 24.8 minutes per contest.

Sheppard will start Sunday's game against the Warriors.

Sheppard will get his fifth start of the season Sunday as the Pacers continue to be decimated by injuries. In his previous four starts, he averaged 9.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 29.0 minutes per contest.

Sheppard won't start in Saturday's game against the Nuggets.

With Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) back in action, Sheppard will come off the bench against Denver. Over four regular-season appearances in the second unit, the 24-year-old guard has averaged 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 25.3 minutes per contest.

Sheppard is part of the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nets.

Sheppard will make his fourth start of the season, stepping into the point guard role Wednesday with the Pacers down several key guards. He averaged 6.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists across 27 minutes in his previous three starts.

Sheppard contributed five points (2-5 FG, 1-2 3Pt), one rebound, two assists and one steal in 20 minutes during Monday's 117-115 loss to the Bucks.

Sheppard has been unable to take advantage of the opportunity considering the Pacers are dealing with an unforeseen slew of injuries, as he has yet to eclipse double digits in scoring since the opening night. However, with Quenton Jackson, who replaced him in the starting lineup, questionable to play Wednesday with a hamstring injury, Sheppard may find himself in a significant ballhandling role once again.

Sheppard will come off the bench in Friday's game against the Hawks.

The winless Pacers are searching for answers for their sizable void at point guard, and Quenton Jackson will usurp Sheppard in the starting lineup. Sheppard has averaged 8.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 30.0 minutes per contest across four games this season. While his streaming value likely takes a slight hit, Sheppard should still play a key role Friday.

Sheppard supplied four points (1-7 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds and two assists over 25 minutes during Wednesday's 107-105 loss to the Mavericks.

Sheppard has taken over the team's starting point guard ever since a slew of injuries have taken over Indiana's backcourt, but has contributed (surprisingly) in the rebound department, averaging 6.8 boards this season. Backup RayJ Dennis, who is on a two-way contract, has been outplaying Sheppard as the team's facilitator and is a candidate to potentially replace him in the starting lineup if Sheppard does not improve his production.

Sheppard finished Saturday's 128-103 loss to Memphis with nine points (4-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt), five rebounds, three assists and one steal in 24 minutes.

Sheppard got the start at point guard for Andrew Nembhard (shoulder), but Indiana lost their second consecutive game to begin the 2025-26 campaign. The 24-year-old, now in his third year in the NBA, was solid after racking up 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in the season opener. If Nembhard remains out, Sheppard should continue to see an uptick in minutes when the Pacers visit the Timberwolves on Sunday.

Sheppard will start in Saturday's game against the Grizzlies.

With Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) sidelined, Sheppard will get the starting nod at point guard against Memphis. The 24-year-old recorded 15 points (5-11 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal in 39 minutes before fouling out of Thursday's season-opening double-overtime loss to the Thunder.

Sheppard closed with 15 points (5-11 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal in 39 minutes before fouling out of Thursday's 141-135 double-overtime loss to Oklahoma City.

Sheppard was an afterthought in fantasy leagues during the 2024-25 regular season with averages of 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.1 three-pointers in 19.5 minutes per game, but he looked like a completely new player Thursday. The Pacers are already shorthanded, and Andrew Nembhard left this game early with a shoulder injury. With how involved Sheppard was Thursday, you can make a strong argument to pick him up in fantasy leagues to see if he can keep it going.

Sheppard (undisclosed) practiced in full Wednesday, Tony East of WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis reports.

Sheppard missed the past three exhibitions for Indiana for undisclosed reasons, but his full participation Wednesday suggests that he's now in the clear. It's likely that he gets some reps in Friday's exhibition against the Spurs with this news.

Sheppard (undisclosed) will not play in Monday's preseason game against the Spurs, Alex Golden of the 'Setting the Pace' podcast reports.

This will be the third straight exhibition on the shelf for Sheppard, and it's still unclear what exactly he's dealing with. His next chance to play comes Friday in a rematch against the Spurs.

Sheppard (undisclosed) will not play in Saturday's preseason game against the Thunder, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Sheppard missed Tuesday's preseason game against Minnesota and has yet to return to practice. Coach Rick Carlisle said Sheppard is also doubtful to play in Monday's exhibition against the Spurs.

Sheppard (undisclosed) won't play in Tuesday's preseason game against the Timberwolves, Tony East of WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis reports.

It's not immediately clear what type of injury Sheppard is dealing with. However, coach Rick Carlisle expects him to return at some point during the preseason. His next chance to play comes Saturday against the Thunder.

Sheppard closed Sunday's 103-91 loss to the Thunder in Game 7 of the NBA Finals with zero points (0-1 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and four rebounds in 16 minutes.

Sheppard delivered his seventh scoreless performance across 21 playoff appearances in Sunday's heartbreaking loss. During the regular season, the versatile guard played in 63 games (nine starts), averaging 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists over 19.5 minutes per contest.

Sheppard (toe) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Cavaliers, Tony East of WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis reports.

Sheppard will miss a fifth straight game for the Pacers on Sunday, as he continues to deal with a toe injury. Andrew Nembhard will be the starter at shooting guard for Indiana, with Aaron Nesmith and Johnny Furphy likely picking up the slack off the bench in Cleveland.

Sheppard (toe) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Cavaliers.

Sheppard has missed the Pacers' last four games with a sprained left toe, and the doubtful tag suggests he doesn't have much of a shot at playing Sunday. If he doesn't suit up, he'll have around a week to recover with the playoffs starting next Saturday, April 19.

Sheppard (toe) is out for Friday's game versus the Magic.

Sheppard will miss his fourth straight contest Friday after being downgraded from doubtful to out due to a sprained left toe. Sheppard's next chance to suit up is Sunday's regular-season finale against Cleveland.

Sheppard (toe) is doubtful for Friday's game against the Magic.

Sheppard appears likely to miss his fourth game in a row Friday. Assuming he sits Friday, Sheppard's final chance to return in the regular season will be Sunday against the Cavaliers.

Sheppard (toe) won't play in Thursday's game versus the Cavaliers, Tony East of WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis reports.

Sheppard has been downgraded from questionable to out Thursday due to a sprained left toe. His next chance to suit up is Friday's matchup with Orlando.

Sheppard (toe) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against Cleveland, Tony East of WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis reports.

Sheppard is in jeopardy of missing a third straight game due to a sprained left toe, and his decision on his availability will be made closer to Thursday's 7:00 p.m. ET tipoff. Jarace Walker and Bennedict Mathurin would continue to see increased playing time if Sheppard is ruled out.

Sheppard (toe) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against Washington, Tony East of WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis reports.

Sheppard will miss his second straight game due to a sprained left toe. His next chance to suit up will come Thursday against Cleveland. Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker are candidates for an uptick in playing time due to Sheppard being sidelined.

Sheppard (toe) is questionable for Tuesday's game against the Wizards.

Sheppard missed Sunday's win over Denver due to a sprained left toe, and the questionable tag suggests a decision on his status will be made closer to Tuesday's 7 p.m. ET tipoff. His potential absence won't have a significant impact from a fantasy perspective, though. The 23-year-old guard is averaging just 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game off the bench for Indiana this season.

Sheppard (toe) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Nuggets, Jeremiah Johnson of FanDuel Sports Network Indiana reports.

Sheppard is dealing with a sprained toe on his left foot, which will keep him sidelined in Denver on Sunday. However, this won't have much of an impact from a fantasy perspective, as the 23-year-old guard averages just 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game off the bench for Indiana this season.

Sheppared (toe) has been listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Nuggets.

Sheppard is dealing with a toe strain, which will likely keep him out of Sunday's game in Denver. However, the 23-year-old doesn't have much fantasy value this season, averaging just 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game for the Pacers.

Sheppard amassed three points (1-2 FG, 1-2 3Pt), four rebounds, two assists and two steals over 20 minutes during Friday's 140-112 win over the Jazz.

Sheppard continues to play a limited role off the bench, scoring fewer than five points for the third straight game. The Pacers are relatively healthy at this point, which is bad news for Sheppard. Over the past eight games, he is averaging just 3.0 points in 14.2 minutes per game.

Sheppard had zero points (0-6 FG, 0-4 3Pt), eight rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal in 22 minutes during Thursday's 105-99 overtime victory over Brooklyn.

Tyrese Haliburton missed his third straight contest with a back injury, but Sheppard wasn't able to generate any offense despite some impressive peripheral stats. Over his last three appearances, Sheppard has averaged 2.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 25.8 minutes per contest.

Sheppard contributed 12 points (4-7 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds, three assists and one steal over 19 minutes during Monday's 121-103 loss to the Bulls.

Bennedict Mathurin moved into the starting lineup Monday, while Tyrese Haliburton missed his third straight game with a hip injury. Despite moving back to the bench, Sheppard was one of the few bright spots for Indiana in this blowout loss. His fantasy appeal remains limited to deeper formats, however, as he's averaging 6.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 three-pointers in 19.6 minutes over his last 10 games.

Sheppard is not in the Pacers' starting lineup against the Bulls on Monday, Tony East of WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis reports.

Even though Tyrese Haliburton will miss a third straight game due to a hip injury, Sheppard will come off the bench Monday while Bennedict Mathurin enters the starting five. Sheppard has averaged 5.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists over 19.7 minutes per game since the All-Star break.

Sheppard closed Sunday's 127-112 win over Chicago with nine points (3-6 FG, 3-6 3Pt), four rebounds and two assists across 21 minutes.

Sheppard remains restricted to a reserve role in Indiana's rotation, having failed to reach double figures in scoring in seven consecutive games. Across his last seven contests, the 2023 first-rounder has averaged 5.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.9 three-pointers in 20.6 minutes. Sheppard's fantasy upside should remain capped while the Pacers are mostly healthy, and he hasn't seen an uptick in value amid Bennedict Mathurin's (wrist) absence.

Sheppard isn't in the starting five for Saturday's game versus the Hawks.

Andrew Nembhard will reclaim his spot in the starting lineup from Sheppard on Saturday after missing Indiana's previous outing due to a back injury. Sheppard is averaging 4.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 19.6 minutes across his previous 10 appearances coming off the bench.

Sheppard chipped in 12 points (4-6 FG, 4-6 3Pt), two rebounds, four assists and one steal in 33 minutes during Wednesday's 133-119 victory over the Pistons.

With Bennedict Mathruin battling an illness, Sheppard got a considerable bump in playing time during Wednesday's win against the Pistons. The 23-year-old guard posted a season-high four assists against Detroit while playing a season-high 33 minutes for the Pacers and scoring in double digits for the fifth time during the 2024-25 campaign with 12 points.

Sheppard is starting in Wednesday's game against the Pistons, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Bennedict Mathurin (illness) is out for the Pacers on Wednesday, allowing Sheppard to make his eighth start of the season. Sheppard has averaged 4.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 threes and 0.7 steals in 26.6 minutes across seven games as a starter this season.

Sheppard will come off the bench Thursday against Detroit, Keith Langlois of the Pistons' official site reports.

Aaron Nesmith is returning from a 35-game absence Thursday, but he'll be operating under a minutes restriction. Bennedict Mathurin is suspended for this contest, however, so there are still plenty of minutes up for grabs in the second unit.

Head coach Rick Carlisle said that Sheppard will start in Tuesday's game against Cleveland, Tony East of WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis reports.

With Tyrese Haliburton (groin) sidelined Tuesday, Sheppard will step into the starting five. The swingman has struggled in his six starts thus far, during which he has averaged 3.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 25.0 percent from the field in 25.8 minutes per contest.

Sheppard had five points (2-4 FG, 1-2 3Pt), two rebounds, three assists and two steals over 22 minutes during Sunday's 108-93 win over the Cavaliers.

Despite seeing at least 20 minutes in four straight games, Sheppard's production has left a lot to be desired from a fantasy perspective. During that stretch, he averaged 4.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.8 three-pointers on 38.9 percent shooting from the field.

Sheppard is not in the Pacers' starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Celtics, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Sheppard started against Boston on Friday and finished with two points, two rebounds and one assist over 20 minutes. He'll revert to a reserve role Sunday as Andrew Nembhard will return from a one-game absence due to left knee injury management.

Sheppard is starting against the Celtics on Friday, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Sheppard will make his first start since Nov. 17 since Andrew Nembhard (knee) is out. Sheppard is averaging 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in five previous starts this season.

Sheppard (oblique) will play in Monday's game against the Warriors.

Sheppard will be active for a third straight game after missing 14 consecutive contests due to an oblique injury. His availability is especially encouraging considering Monday's game is the second of a back-to-back. He's played 16 and 17 minutes, respectively, since coming back from the injury.

Sheppard (oblique) is questionable for Monday's game against the Warriors.

After missing 14 straight games, Sheppard has appeared in two straight, including the first half of Indiana's back-to-back set against the Kings on Sunday. Sheppard scored 14 points (5-5 FG, 4-4 3Pt) in 17 minutes during that contest after scoring only two points (1-4 FG) in 16 minutes during his return against the Suns on Thursday.

Sheppard registered 14 points (5-5 FG, 4-4 3Pt) and one rebound in 17 minutes off the bench during Sunday's 122-95 victory over the Kings.

It was the second-year guard's second game back from an oblique strain, and Sheppard looked fully healthy on a perfect night from the floor. The four made threes were his highest total since a 6-for-11 performance from long distance Nov. 1 against the Pelicans. The 2023 first-round pick had worked his way into the starting five prior to getting hurt, but with Aaron Nesmith (ankle) currently sidelined, Sheppard is probably ticketed for a key role on the Pacers' second unit.

Sheppard (oblique) is available for Sunday's game against the Kings, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Sheppard returned to action in Thursday's win over the Suns following a multi-week absence due to a left oblique strain. The 23-year-old will likely operate under a minutes restriction as the club works him back to playing form.

Sheppard is questionable for Sunday's game against the Kings due to a left oblique strain.

Sheppard played 16 minutes Thursday in his first appearance since Nov. 17 due to the same injury he's listed with ahead of Sunday's game. A decision on Sheppard's status will be made closer to Sunday's 6 p.m. ET tipoff, though if he's available, he should see minutes off the bench but not much of a prominent role.

Sheppard (oblique) recorded two points (1-4 FG, 0-3 3Pt), two rebounds, one steal and one block across 16 minutes in Thursday's 120-111 win over the Suns.

Suiting up for the first time since Nov. 17 after a 14-game absence due to a left oblique strain, Sheppard served as a bench player. He had started in his last five appearances prior to straining his oblique, but Andrew Nembhard had been sidelined for those games with an injury of his own and has since returned to take his spot on the top unit. Rookie Johnny Furphy moved out of the Indiana rotation Thursday to open up a spot for Sheppard, who isn't likely to see his playing time pick up dramatically now that the Pacers are at close to full strength on the wing.

Sheppard (oblique) has been cleared to play Thursday against the Suns, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Sheppard will see the court for the first time since Nov. 17 after recovering from a strained left oblique. The team stated the 23-year-old will have his minutes limited Thursday, though no range was provided.

Sheppard (oblique) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Suns.

Sheppard has been sidelined since Nov. 17 due to a strained left oblique, but he's listed on the injury report as questionable for the first time since sustaining the injury. While he'd almost certainly be under a minutes restriction if cleared, Sheppard seems to be close to full health.

Coach Rick Carlisle said Sunday that Sheppard (oblique) will miss multiple weeks, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

An MRI showed Sheppard's injury is worse than initially anticipated, so he'll join Andrew Nembhard (knee) and Aaron Nesmith (ankle) on the long-term injury list. Quenton Jackson has been the next man up, while Bennedict Mathurin continues to excel as a starter. Sheppard will likely be evaluated again around Christmas.

Sheppard (oblique) is out for Sunday's game against the Wizards.

Sheppard will miss a fourth consecutive contest with this oblique injury, and there's no timetable for when he'll return to the court. Jarace Walker and Quenton Jackson will continue to see more time at the small forward role, as the Pacers remain very depleted in terms of their wing depth. Sheppard's next chance to play will come against the Pelicans on Monday in the second half of a back-to-back set.

Sheppard (oblique) is out for Friday's game against the Bucks, Tony East of SI.com reports.

Sheppard is set to miss a third straight contest with this oblique injury, and while the questionable tag prior to the game shows progress, he's still not ready to return to the hardwood. Expect Jarace Walker and Quenton Jackson to see bigger roles with Sheppard out in a thin wing rotation for Indiana.

Sheppard (oblique) is questionable for Friday's game against the Bucks.

Sheppard has missed the last two games for the Pacers, and while the questionable tag is encouraging, he could end up missing a third straight contest. If that's the case, then Jarace Walker (illness) and Quenton Jackson would be in line for bigger roles in Indiana's depleted wing rotation.

Sheppard (oblique) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against Houston, Jeremiah Johnson of Bally Sports Indiana reports.

Sheppard has been a consistent shooter for the Pacers this season, connecting on 40.4 percent of 3.6 threes per game. In his absence, Bennedict Mathurin will continue being tasked with a big workload, while Jarace Walker and Quenton Jackson are candidates for enlarged roles.

Sheppard (oblique) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the Rockets.

The 23-year-old guard missed Sunday's loss to the Raptors due to a left oblique strain, though coach Rick Carlisle said Tuesday that he does not expect the injury to turn into a long-term absence, according to Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. If Sheppard is unable to return Wednesday, Jarace Walker, Quenton Jackson and T.J. McConnell could see an uptick in playing time.

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said Sheppard (oblique) could be available to return to action Wednesday against the Rockets, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Sheppard missed Monday's 130-119 loss to the Raptors with a left oblique strain, and though injuries of this sort can often lead to multi-week absences, Carlisle said that the second-year wing's oblique issue isn't particularly serious. While Carlisle wasn't willing to formally commit to Sheppard being ready to play Wednesday, the coach suggested that the 23-year-old is a good bet to return to the lineup no later than Friday (at Milwaukee) or Sunday (vs. Washington). Jarace Walker moved up to the top unit Monday as a replacement for Sheppard, who had started in each of Indiana's preceding five contests and averaged 4.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 three-pointers and 0.8 steals in 27.0 minutes.

Sheppard (oblique) won't play against the Raptors on Monday, Jeremiah Johnson of Bally Sports Indiana reports.

Sheppard suffered a left oblique strain Sunday against the Heat and was unable to return. In the meantime, T.J. McConnell and Quenton Jackson are candidates to see increased reps for the Pacers.

Sheppard has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Heat due to a left oblique strain, Scott Agness of FieldhouseFiles.com reports.

Sheppard strained his left oblique during the third quarter of Sunday's game, and he'll finish with three points, three rebounds, one assist and one block over 26 minutes. T.J. McConnell and Quenton Jackson are in line to see more minutes off the bench in Sheppard's absence. Given the Pacers' upcoming schedule, Sheppard is in danger of being sidelined for the second leg of a back-to-back against the Raptors on Monday.

Sheppard will get the start in Friday's matchup with the Hornets.

With Andrew Nembhard (knee) getting the late scratch, Sheppard will start at shooting guard. The 24-year-old has averaged 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists across 26.7 minutes in seven starts this season.

Sheppard totaled 20 points (7-12 FG, 6-11 3Pt), three rebounds and one assist in 33 minutes during Friday's 125-118 loss to the Pelicans.

Sheppard stepped up in the loss, scoring a career-high 20 points including six triples. With Andrew Nembhard (knee) sidelined and Aaron Nesmith going down with an ankle injury, Sheppard was afforded additional playing time. While this is certainly a noteworthy performance, it appears as though he would need both players to continue missing time to have a shot at playing anywhere near 30 minutes.

The Pacers have exercised the third-year option on Sheppard's contract Friday, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.com reports.

This means the guard, who was selected in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft by the Pacers, will remain under contract with the franchise until the end of the 2025-26 season. This move shouldn't make much of an impact from a fantasy perspective, though, as Sheppard is a backup alternative in the backcourt and doesn't have a clear path to earning regular minutes. He averaged 4.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game across 57 regular-season appearances as a rookie in 2023-24,

Sheppard tallied 14 points (5-10 FG, 2-6 3PT, 2-2 FT), three steals, one rebound and one assist in 28 minutes during Thursday's 121-116 preseason win over Charlotte.

Sheppard provided the Pacers with a nice boost off the bench, something they will be hoping to see more of during the season. Although Bennedict Mathurin is likely to be the first guard off the bench, he is by no means a lock to hold down that position given his inconsistencies. Sheppard has proven an ability to be a sparkplug scorer and should Mathurin struggle to begin the season, the coaching staff may opt to shift Sheppard up in the rotation.

Sheppard will start Saturday's Game 3 against the Celtics, Tony East of SI.com reports.

Tyrese Haliburton (leg) has been ruled out for Game 3, and his availability for Game 4 and beyond is in jeopardy too. In 15 postseason appearances, Sheppard has averaged 5.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.2 three-pointers.

Sheppard chipped in 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 3Pt) and one assist over 20 minutes during Wednesday's 130-121 loss to New York in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Sheppard continues to play meaningful minutes for the Pacers, connecting on three triples en route to 11 points. While the Pacers did end with six players in double-digits, it was still not enough to get over the line in front of a vocal New York crowd. Sheppard should continue to serve as a three-point threat off the bench.

Sheppard is not in the starting lineup to face the Bulls on Wednesday.

Sheppard will return to his regular bench role with Aaron Nesmith (knee) back from a one-game absence. Sheppard should see decent minutes off the bench, as he's averaging 18.8 minutes per contest this month.

Sheppard is in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Clippers.

Sheppard will fill in for Aaron Nesmith (knee). He is flanked by Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner in the starting lineup.

Sheppard notched five points (2-6 FG, 1-5 3Pt), one rebound, one assist and one steal across 20 minutes during Monday's 108-103 loss to the Cavaliers.

Sheppard continues to see a decent sized role for the Pacers, but his production has left a lot to be desired. Over his last seven appearances, Sheppard has averaged 6.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 three-pointers in 19.1 minutes, hitting 41.7 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Sheppard (illness) is available for Tuesday's game versus the Mavericks.

Sheppard will return to action Tuesday after missing Indiana's last two contests with a non-COVID illness. The rookie guard is averaging 9.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 18.4 minutes across his last five appearances.

Sheppard (illness) is questionable for Tuesday's game against Dallas.

Sheppard has missed back-to-back games due to an illness. He wasn't with the team for Sunday's game in San Antonio, but he was expected to make the trip to Dallas, suggesting he has a good chance of being cleared Tuesday.

Sheppard (illness) isn't with the team for Sunday's game in San Antonio, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Sheppard will miss a second straight game due to an illness and join the team for Tuesday's matchup in Dallas. Bennedict Mathurin and T.J. McConnell are candidates for a few extra minutes off the bench in Sheppard's absence.

Sheppard (illness) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Spurs.

Sheppard was a late addition to the injury report Friday and was ultimately sidelined due to an illness. Even if he's cleared to suit up, it's unclear if the rookie will have a role now that Aaron Nesmith (ankle) is healthy.

Sheppard (illness) will not play in Friday's game versus the Pelicans, Tony East of SI.com reports.

Sheppard was a late addition to the injury report and will ultimately get the night off. Some combination of Aaron Nesmith (ankle) and Bennecict Mathurin figure to be in line to absorb the rookie's minutes.

Sheppard is listed as questionable for Friday's game versus the Pelicans due to an illness.

Sheppard's late addition to the injury report is a bad sign of his availability for Friday's contest. If the rookie guard is ruled out, Bennedict Mathurin could receive increased playing time.

Sheppard had 15 points (5-6 FG, 5-5 3Pt), one rebound, four assists and two steals across 12 minutes during Sunday's 133-111 victory over Dallas.

With 15 points and five triples, the rookie set new career-best marks for each. He's been thriving in the absence of Aaron Nesmith (ankle) with his floor spacing, hitting a total of eight three-pointers in his last three appearances.

The Pacers recalled Sheppard from the Indiana Mad Ants of the G League on Wednesday.

Sheppard will be available for Wednesday's game versus the Wizards. However, the rookie guard is unlikely to receive significant playing time.

The Pacers recalled Sheppard from the Indiana Mad Ants of the G League on Thursday.

Sheppard will return to the Pacers alongside fellow rookie Jarace Walker. Sheppard is averaging 2.9 points in 6.6 minutes across his 14 NBA appearances this season.

The Pacers recalled Sheppard from the G League's Indiana Mad Ants on Tuesday.

Sheppard and Jarace Walker were sent down to the G League earlier in the day and played in the Mad Ants' 109-106 loss to Santa Cruz. Sheppard finished the contest with 20 points (7-14 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 1-1 FT), three rebounds, four assists and one block in 35 minutes.

Sheppard was elevated to the Pacers' roster Sunday morning.

Sheppard joins the Pacers in advance of Monday's game against Milwaukee. He registered 13 points (5-10 FG, 3-5 3Pt) and five rebounds in a G League victory over Birmingham on Friday.

The Pacers recalled Sheppard from the G League's Indiana Mad Ants on Wednesday.

Sheppard and fellow rookie first-round pick Jarace Walker both joined the G League club on Tuesday and started in the Mad Ants' 131-97 win over the Windy City Bulls. The 22-year-old shooting guard played 33 minutes in the win, finishing with 18 points (6-15 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 1-1 FT), nine rebounds, four assists and one steal. Sheppard should be available for the Pacers' next game Thursday in Miami but is unlikely to be featured in head coach Rick Carlisle's rotation.

The Pacers recalled Sheppard from the G League's Indiana Mad Ants on Wednesday.

Sheppard and Jarace Walker started the Mad Ants' matchup against the Motor City Cruise on Wednesday but have since returned to the NBA club. Sheppard finished the contest with 12 points (5-11 FG, 2-4 3Pt), six rebounds and three assists in 19 minutes.

Sheppard logged six points (2-4 FG, 2-4 3Pt), two rebounds and two assists in 15 minutes during Wednesday's 155-104 loss to Boston.

Sheppard played double-digit minutes for the first time this year and knocked down two shots from beyond the arc in the blowout loss. However, he hasn't been part of the Pacers' rotation outside of blowouts early in the season.

Sheppard recorded 15 points (6-16 FG, 3-10 3Pt), three rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes during Sunday's 127-122 preseason overtime loss to the Grizzlies.

Although Sheppard came off the bench during Sunday's matchup, he saw plenty of volume from the floor and led the Pacers in field-goal attempts. Indiana selected Sheppard with the 26th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and although Sunday's performance was encouraging, he could have some trouble carving out meaningful minutes for the Pacers once the regular season begins.

Sheppard logged one point (0-4 FG, 0-3 3PT, 1-2 FT), three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 28 minutes of Saturday's 91-83 Summer League win over Washington.

Sheppard was quiet in his first taste of NBA action, failing to knock down a single jumper in 28 minutes despite his shooting being his most notable trait. As he gets more comfortable in an NBA game environment, Sheppard should begin to start connecting on more of his attempts. However, those attempts could come at a premium with the Pacers bringing three rotation pieces from last year's roster into Summer League.