NBA Notes: Pacers, TJ McConnell, Kings, Bulls, Coby White

Pacers

The Pacers will be without veteran guard T.J. McConnell for at least a month after he suffered a left hamstring strain, coach Rick Carlisle told reporters. McConnell exited Tuesday’s preseason opener in the second quarter and didn’t return.

It’s another blow to an Indiana backcourt already without Tyrese Haliburton, who will miss the season with a torn Achilles suffered in the NBA Finals, and rookie Kam Jones, who’s out several weeks with a back injury.

McConnell, 33, played in 79 games last year, averaging 9.1 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.1 steals in under 18 minutes per night — production that mirrored his postseason numbers.

Carlisle said newly signed Cameron Payne will handle backup duties while McConnell recovers, per Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star.

“It just didn’t work out with Delon,” Carlisle said of Delon Wright, who was released after suffering head and elbow lacerations Tuesday. “Cam’s here. We’ve seen a lot of Cam the last two years with Milwaukee and New York. His speed and long-range shooting are high-level. He’s experienced, knows the game, and has good feel.”

Kings

The Kings have waived guard Dexter Dennis, the team announced. The 26-year-old had signed a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract late last month, likely setting up a return to Sacramento’s G League affiliate in Stockton.

Dennis averaged 13.9 points and 3.9 rebounds last season for Stockton, helping lead the team to a G League title. His deal allows him to collect a bonus of up to $85,300 if he spends 60 days with the affiliate again this year.

The move keeps Sacramento at a full 21-man camp roster as the regular season nears.

Bulls

Coby White remains sidelined with a lingering calf strain that’s slowed his ramp-up since August, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Coach Billy Donovan said White has been running and shooting but continues to experience tightness when intensity increases.

“It wasn’t pain, but every time they got to this threshold, he felt tightness,” Donovan explained. “So they basically just shut him down.”

The hope is that White, who emerged as a breakout scorer last season, will be ready for Chicago’s final preseason game Oct. 16 — or at least the regular season opener six days later.