Pacers Hit With Unfortunate Injury News Amid 3-Game Losing Streak

Jun 16, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots past Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, left, and Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, right, during the first half during game five of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Nate Billings/Pool Photo via Imagn Images | Nate Billings-Pool Photo via Imagn Images

The Indiana Pacers have been hit with unfortunate injury news as they look to end their three-game losing streak against the lowly Washington Wizards for a meaningless Friday night Emirates NBA Cup clash (both clubs have already been eliminated), who like Indiana have only won two games all year.

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Per Indiana's official X account and head coach Rick Carlisle, starting point guard Andrew Nembhard has been sidelined for the tilt due to a right quad contusion.

Andrew Nembhard (right quad contusion) is out for tonight's game against the Wizards, per Coach Carlisle.

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 28, 2025

After Friday, the 6-foot-4 Gonzaga product will have only been available for 11 of the Pacers' 19 games. Nembhard has been averaging a career-most 17.5 points on .395/.333/.881 shooting splits, plus 6.2 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 steals per.

Per Indiana, Ben Sheppard will inherit the starting point guard role in Nembhard's stead. Two of Carlisle's preferred long-term starters (two-time All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton remains done for the year with an Achilles tendon tear) — shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin, three-time All-Star power forward Pascal Siakam — will be available Friday night. Carlisle has been toggling starting centers, with floor-spacing big Jay Huff earning the nod now.

With normal starting small forward Aaron Nesmith shelved, 2023 lottery pick Jarace Walker has earned the starting role.

a new five tonight. pic.twitter.com/sykOabmWdw

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 29, 2025

The lowly Pacers sport a league-worst 2-16 record — with a win-loss rate just 0.7 percent worse, however, than the 2-15 Wizards.

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According to Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star, the (likely) lottery-bound Wizards will start veteran point guard C.J. McCollum, shooting guard Kyshawn George, former three-time All-Star small forward Khris Middleton, power forward Bilal Coulibaly, and second-year center Alex Sarr.

The Pacers' Brutal Decline

Indiana has fallen a long way from its seven-game NBA Finals series against the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder last June. The Pacers have been listless without Haliburton or their rotating crop of injured players.

Backup power forward Obi Toppin ranks as the club's most significant supplemental long-term injury. The 6-foot-9 Dayton product suffered a stress fracture in his foot and will sit out until February.

Now, like Washington, Indiana is poised to be in a position to plan for the future this season. But unlike the Wizards, when this roster is fully healthy (and, likely, armed with an elite lottery pick), the Pacers could rebound in a hurry.

For more news and notes on the Indiana Pacers, visit Indiana Pacers on SI.