Pacers' Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard out for several weeks with injuries

Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard out for several weeks with injuries

Posted by Admin November 10, 2024 NBA

INDIANAPOLIS — Forward Aaron Nesmith is out until at least December with a sprained left ankle and guard Andrew Nembhard is out for at least two more weeks with knee tendinitis, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said in his pre-game press conference Sunday before the Pacers’ game with the Knicks.

Forward Obi Toppin, who also has a sprained ankle, has also been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Point guard T.J. McConnell who was listed as questionable with an illness after missing Friday’s game, is available.

Nesmith, Nembhard and McConnell all missed Friday’s game and Toppin was injured during the game. Nesmith sprained the ankle in the Pacers’ Nov. 1 loss against the Pelicans in New Orleans. Nembhard has had flare-ups of knee tendinitis To make up for their absences, the Pacers had to give significant minutes to guard Quenton Jackson and forward Enrique Freeman, who are both on two-way contracts with the Mad Ants. They will also likely have to play heavy minutes on Sunday and Jackson may have to play significant minutes for the next several weeks.

“NBA coaching is resourcefulness and problem-solving and crisis management,” Carlisle said. “This is just another day at the arena really. We haven’t had this level of guys out really for quite a while. There’s a great opportunity for some younger guys here. We still have some of our best players playing and just have to find the balance.”

Nesmith and Nembhard have been the Pacers’ two most reliable perimeter defenders for the last two seasons. Against the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals in May, Nembhard guarded Knicks All-NBA guard Jalen Brunson at the start of the series and Nesmith was moved on to the assignment after a few games. The Pacers will have to ask a lot from wings Ben Sheppard and Bennedict Mathurin, who will likely start in Nembhard and Nesmith’s absence, as well as forward Jarace Walker who will have to lead the bench.

The Pacers were already down two men with centers Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman down long-term with Achilles tendon tears. Recoveries from those injuries take 4-6 months at minimum so both are in danger of losing their entire seasons, though they haven’t been ruled out yet. The Pacers left one of their 15 full-time roster spots open, so with Nesmith, Nembhard, Toppin, Jackson and Wiseman all out, they only have nine full-time players available for Sunday. That includes rookie wing Johnny Furphy, who dealt with ankle injuries in preseason camp that have held him to just two appearances so far, and 37-year-old veteran James Johnson Jr., who has stayed on the roster mostly as a veteran bench voice and less for on-court contributions. Of the 12 players who could conceivably be considered part of rotation at the start of the season, just seven — Tyrese Haliburton, Sheppard, Mathurin, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, McConnell and Walker — will be available on Sunday.

So that will require contributions from the two-way guys. Guard Tristen Newton, who spent Sunday with the Mad Ants, could also be called into service. As long as Toppin’s out, they will certainly need Freeman. Toppin was the Pacers’ second-unit power forward behind Pascal Siakam but he has had to play extended minutes at center. Freeman will likely have to take on that responsibility on Sunday and as long as Toppin as out.

“I obviously wasn’t expecting it,” Freeman said. “But I’m definitely staying ready and being prepared. Guys in my position, you have to always stay ready and be prepared.”