ImpactPayne has been diagnosed with a right wrist sprain following Saturday's win over Indiana, and he'll be sidelined for at least one game. Elfrid Payton and Landry Shamet should see increased usage Monday.
JANUARY 24, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Cameron Payne - Unavailable MondayPayne (wrist) is out Monday against the Jazz.
Jae Crowder - Ruled out MondayCrowder (wrist) is out Monday against the Jazz.
ImpactCrowder sustained a left wrist contusion in Saturday's win over the Pacers and will be forced to miss at least one game. Cameron Johnson and Jalen Smith should see additional run in the frontcourt.
JANUARY 24, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Deandre Ayton - Doubtful MondayAyton (ankle) is doubtful for Monday's game against the Jazz.
ImpactAyton has been unavailable for the last three games due to a sprained right ankle, and he'll likely be forced to sit out again Monday. Assuming he's held out, JaVale McGee, Bismack Biyombo and Jalen Smith should see increased run once again.
JANUARY 24, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Caris LeVert - Game-time call for MondayThe Pacers are labeling LeVert (calf) as a game-time decision for Monday's tilt with the Pelicans, James Boyd of The Indianapolis Star reports.
ImpactIf he's available to play after missing the Pacers' previous two games with a sore right calf, LeVert could be in store for elevated usage as the team's starting point guard. Indiana will likely be without Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) for the next week, if not longer, potentially opening the door for a healthy LeVert to enjoy a spike in both of his field-goal attempts and his assist rate. Domantas Sabonis (ankle), Myles Turner (foot) and T.J. Warren (foot) are also sidelined, leaving Indiana without many offensive playmakers.
JANUARY 23, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Jalen Smith - Drops out of rotationSmith (coach's decision) didn't leave the bench Saturday in the Suns' 113-103 win over the Pacers.
ImpactEven though Deandre Ayton (ankle) was sidelined for a third straight game Saturday, Smith hasn't been to maintain a spot in head coach Monty Williams' rotation. The second-year big man has logged just two minutes over that three-catch stretch, with Williams instead leaning on JaVale McGee and Bismack Biyombo as the team's options at center. Though Smith previously averaged 15.8 points, 10.2 boards and 1.0 blocks over 25.7 minutes per game during a six-game stretch from Dec. 27 through Jan. 6 while both Ayton and McGee missed time while in the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the 21-year-old wasn't able to parlay his performance into a stable role. Considering the Suns have already declined his third-year team option for the 2022-23 season, Smith is a prime candidate to be dealt ahead of the Feb. 10 trade deadline.
JANUARY 23, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Game Preview: Pacers at Pelicans ' Indiana PacersMatchup The Pacers (17-30) have a chance to secure a winning road trip on Monday night, when they wrap up a five-game Western Conference tri...
JANUARY 23, 2022•NBA.COM
Chris Duarte - Compiles another strong stat lineDuarte supplied 17 points (7-15 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 0-1 FT), four rebounds, four assists and one steal over 31 minutes during Saturday's 113-103 loss to the Suns.
ImpactDuarte tied Lance Stephenson for high-scoring honors among Pacers players in the loss, and he led Indiana with four assists. The rookie has played at least 31 minutes in each of his past four games and is averaging 19.8 points, 5.8 boards, 4.0 dimes and 2.0 steals over that span. Caris LeVert (calf) should return to the lineup soon, but Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) could be in for an extended absence, giving Duarte a path to continued big minutes.
JANUARY 23, 2022•ROTOWIRE
