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.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Pulls down eight rebounds in loss
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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 as the team's starting point guard ever since a slew of injuries hit Indiana's backcourt. He's surprisingly contributed 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. However, that all hinges on whether or not Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) returns to action soon.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Plays 24 minutes in start
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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.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Starting sans Nembhard
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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.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Excels against Thunder
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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, he could have streaming value if Nembhard is forced to miss additional games.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Returns to full practice
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Sheppard (undisclosed) practiced in full Wednesday, Tony East of WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis reports.
Sheppard missed Indiana's past three exhibitions due to undisclosed reasons, but his full participation Wednesday suggests that he's now in the clear. It's likely that he will get some reps in Friday's exhibition against the Spurs, especially with T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Johnny Furphy (ankle), Quenton Jackson (hamstring) and Kam Jones (back) banged up.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Out again Monday
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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.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Won't play Saturday
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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.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Won't play Tuesday
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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. Sheppard's 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 totaled three points (1-1 FG, 1-1 3Pt), three rebounds and two steals in 17 minutes during Sunday's 106-100 loss to New York in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Sheppard attempted just one shot for the third time in the past four games, continuing what has been a disappointing postseason. Despite coming into the league as a potential scoring threat off the bench, Sheppard has been unable to turn that potential into anything tangible. Across 11 postseason appearances, he is averaging just 3.4 points and 0.8 three-pointers in 12.8 minutes per game.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Fails to score in victory
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Sheppard notched zero points (0-1 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and one assist over seven minutes during Wednesday's 138-135 overtime win over the Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Sheppard continues to play a minimal role, failing to score for the fourth time in the past seven games. In fact, Sheppard didn't even enter the rotation until late in the contest after having played a role in the first half of the previous eight playoff games. Indiana is now at the pointy end of the season, meaning there could be a squeeze for minutes for players like Sheppard.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Drops 14 in win
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Sheppard logged 14 points (5-10 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and three rebounds over 29 minutes during Sunday's 129-109 victory over Cleveland in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
With Bennedict Mathurin tossed after only one minute of action, Sheppard stepped up and played well in the Game 4 blowout win, submitting easily his best performance of the 2025 playoffs. The 23-year-old guard saw 29 minutes off the bench, with head coach Rick Carlisle pulling the starters early after getting out to a 41-point lead. In the seven games he's played in this postseason, the Belmont product has averaged 3.6 points and 1.7 rebounds per game, shooting 42.9 percent from the floor and 31.3 percent from deep.
Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Enters rotation in Game 3 loss
Rotowire
Sheppard tallied five points (2-5 FG, 1-4 3Pt) and two rebounds across 15 minutes off the bench Friday in the Pacers' 117-101 loss to the Bucks in Game 3 of the first-round playoff series.
Sheppard missed the final five games of the regular season due to a sprained left toe, but he was cleared to return to action ahead of the postseason. After going unused in coach's decisions in Pacers wins in Games 1 and 2, Sheppard cracked head coach Rick Carlisle's rotation Friday. The second-year guard essentially replaced forward Jarace Walker, who didn't enter the game until the Pacers were trailing by 17 with 5:50 remaining in the fourth quarter. Sheppard didn't make much of an impact during his time on the court, so it wouldn't be surprising if he fell back out of the rotation in Game 4 on Sunday.
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Pacers' Ben Sheppard: Available for Game 1
Rotowire
Sheppard (toe) is listed as available Saturday for Game of the Pacers' first-round playoff series versus the Bucks.
Sheppard has been cleared to play in the postseason opener after missing the final five games of the regular season due to a left great toe sprain. The second-year guard closed out the regular season with averages of 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 three-pointers in 19.5 minutes per game over his 63 appearances. It's unclear if the Pacers plan to make him part of their rotation in Game 1.
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