UPDATE: About 30 minutes before tip-off. Andrew Nembhard was ruled out of the Pacers’ game against the Hornets on Thursday with lower back soreness.
Two-way contract guard Quenton Jackson took his spot in the starting lineup, keeping T.J. McConnell with the second unit. Jackson has played a total of 37 seconds in the Pacers’ last four games, but he’s averaging 7.1 points per game in 14 appearances this season. He also gives the Pacers more size for the matchup with Hornets guard LaMelo Ball.
PREVIOUS: Point guard Andrew Nembhard was added to the Pacers’ injury report at noon Thursday for their game Thursday night against the Hornets in Charlotte. He is listed as questionable with lower back soreness.
Nembhard — who shifted over from shooting guard to start at point guard this season with All-Star Tyrese Haliburton out for the season with a right Achilles tendon tear — ranks third among the Pacers in scoring this season with a career-high 17.2 points per game and leads the squad with a career-high 7.0 assists per game. The added responsibility he’s had this season has worn on his efficiency as he is shooting a career-worst 43.8% from the floor with a career-worst effective field goal percentage of .501, but he’s shooting 35.4% from 3-point range which is an improvement from last year. He does, however, have the Pacers worst plus-minus figure at -9.7 per game. He still remains arguably the Pacers’ best perimeter defender.
If Nembhard is out, the Pacers would most likely move T.J. McConnell up to the starting lineup. He hasn’t started a game this season, but he’s averaging 9.6 points per game on 54.1% shooting and 4.7 assists per game. He’s actually second on the team in scoring on a per-36 minute basis with 20.4 points per 36 and he leads the team with 9.9 assists per 36 minutes.
If Nembhard is out and McConnell starts, the Pacers would use their 22nd starting lineup in 38 games this season. They have the NBA’s worst record at 6-31.
Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin is still out with a sprained right thumb and center Isaiah Jackson remains out with a concussion. Forward Obi Toppin is out until February after surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot and Haliburton is out for the season. The Hornets are on the second night of a back-to-back and have not yet submitted a report.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers’ Andrew Nembhard out vs. Hornets with lower back soreness
Reporting by Dustin Dopirak, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
