How Soon Will Injured Ben Sheppard Return To Pacers Lineup?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Svyatoslav Rovenchuk | Last updated Dec 18, 2024 2:38 PM ET

One of the biggest things that has plagued the Indiana Pacers this season has been injuries. They have suffered multiple injuries that have led to them being short-handed in a number of departments.

The lack of consistent rotations has been a sizeable reason for the Pacers' struggles in the early parts of this season. 12-15 is currently good enough for a spot in the Play-In Tournament standings in the Eastern Conference, but it is a far cry from the team that the Pacers were in 2023-24.

All things considered, it is not all doom and gloom in Indiana. There is even a piece of good news that should give Pacers fans a bit of a lift. Second-year guard Ben Sheppard looks to be nearing his return to the lineup for the team.

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle offered an update on Sheppard's injury and an approximate timeline for when they are expecting him back.

"He's making progress," Carlisle told reporters. "Sometime in the not-too-distant future, we hope [is the timeline for his return]. ...He went through some things. He's been doing some contact work, so he's getting closer, and he's been able to do things without any setbacks to this point. We won't know about today, probably until tomorrow, but he's making nice progress."

Sheppard looked solid when asked to take on a bigger role in the rotation for the Pacers. In 20.9 minutes per game, the Indiana guard was averaging 5.8 points on 42.4 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from beyond the arc.

More importantly, Sheppard was able to provide some reliable perimeter defense for the Pacers. His impending return will be a welcome one for Carlisle's group.

Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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