Pacers guard Ben Sheppard has been upgraded to questionable for Monday’s game against the Rockets in Houston after missing nearly four weeks with a left calf strain according to the Pacers’ injury report.
Veteran point guard T.J. McConnell was also upgraded to questionable with right hamstring soreness after missing Saturday’s loss to the Heat. However, center Jay Huff was added to the injury report with a left ankle sprain. Center Isaiah Jackson remains out with a concussion. Forward Obi Toppin is out until at least February with a stress fracture in his right foot and All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is out for the season with a right Achilles tendon tear.
The Pacers have dealt with several medium-to-long term injuries this season and generally, when players have been upgraded to questionable after extensive absences, they have returned the day of the upgrade. Forward Aaron Nesmith was upgraded to questionable on Saturday after being out since Nov. 13 with a left knee MCL sprain and he played 19 minutes against the Heat.
Sheppard is averaging 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game this season and would give the Pacers depth at both point guard and shooting guard, spots where they’ve been short-handed. If Huff and Jackson are both out, the Pacers would have to lean hard on recently signed Micah Potter and veteran Tony Bradley, who is playing through a fractured right thumb.