INDIANAPOLIS — Pacers two-way contract guard Quenton Jackson will play for the G League’s Noblesville Boom on Thursday night against the Wisconsin Herd, then join the Pacers in Philadelphia on Friday night for his first NBA game since he strained his right hamstring on Nov. 3, coach Rick Carlisle said Thursday. Jackson is listed as questionable on the injury report for Friday’s game.
The undrafted Jackson has been a difference-maker for the Pacers on several occasions when called upon. Last year he started seven games and averaged 5.8 points per game. This season before his injury he averaged 11.8 points and 3.6 assists per game, shooting 54.1% from the floor an 50% from 3-point range in five games. He’s been ramping up toward a return for the past week.
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It will be a little harder for Jackson get on the floor now that point guards Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell and wing Bennedict Mathurin have returned to action, but Ben Sheppard is out with a calf strain so that could still leave some minutes open.
“We need as many healthy bodies as we can get and he’s a very good player,” Carlisle said. “… It’s been a while. He’s worked hard. The minutes tonight could really help for rhythm and conditioning and return to play. And we’ll just go from there.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Quenton Jackson injury update: Pacers guard to play with Boom on Thursday