Pacers Notes: Key players sitting vs. Jazz
The Pacers will be without a handful of players (about 82 points) Tuesday when they host the Jazz. Team notes, Pascal Siakam is still an All-Star, an Obi Toppin update, and a new community initiative
Good afternoon and welcome back to Fieldhouse Files. Between the frequent Pacers games, the trade deadline, and watching the projected top two 2026 draft picks square off over the weekend — it’s a busy time in Pacers land.
The trade deadline is 48 hours away. I’ll have more in a preview, but for the Pacers it’s about thinking big — with next season and the salary cap in mind. This season is by no means a lost year because there’s plenty to be discovered and gained, even when the playoffs aren’t in the cards.
The Pacers have five games left until the All-Star break, when the league descends upon Los Angeles — and inside Clippers owner Steve Ballmer’s glamorous Intuit Dome for festivities.
Below are some notes before I get into the Pacers’ strategy on the second night of a back-to-back, Obi Toppin being three months removed from surgery, and a new initiative where Pacers 3s at home will benefit the community.
The Pacers’ 118-114 loss to the Rockets on Monday further reinforced the need for them to acquire a starting center. The Rockets grabbed 19 offensive boards, then outscored the Pacers 30-8 in second-chance points and 31-16 at the foul line. That was the ballgame. Alperen Sengun had his way inside and finished with 39 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists.
Pascal Siakam is now a four-time All-Star. He was voted in by Eastern Conference head coaches, one of seven reserves selected for 2026 All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. The other six East reserves: Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors), Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons), Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers), Norman Powell (Miami Heat), Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks).
Two-way guard Ethan Thompson will be out there as well. He’s been named to the NBA G League Next Up Game. Thompson sank nine 3s, matching a Boom franchise record (for the second time this season) in a win on Sunday.
Siakam was a nominee for Eastern Conference Player of the Month for January, which was won by Boston's Jaylen Brown.
How about this: Aaron Nesmith was a nominee for Eastern Conference Player of the Week, which was won by Hornets forward Brandon Miller.
Former Pacers scout Pat Knight has resigned as Marian boys basketball coach after administration insisted that he not bring back assistant coach Todd Howard after the season. Knight appeared on 107.5 The Fan’s “Query & Company” after my 12:30 p.m. ET hit and said he’s at peace with the decision. Knight believes he’s done coaching for good and hopes to get back into NBA scouting. This was his second season at Marian University.
Brownsburg High School is retiring the jersey of Gordon Hayward on Thursday. The 2020 lottery pick had a successful NBA career and has been retired since 2024.
On the WNBA side, still no significant updates on progress toward a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The two sides met on Monday in New York City.
As the Pacers celebrate “National Girls and Women in Sports Day” on Tuesday at the Pacers game, three Fever players are tentatively scheduled to attend: Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, and Makayla Timpson.
Below is a visual update on the construction for the Fever’s new sports performance center.
Many Players Sitting For Pacers-Jazz
The Pacers are following a familiar script lately and sitting key players on the second night of a back-to-back Tuesday when the Jazz make their annual visit.
They’ll be without their top four scorers this season and about 82.3 points per game in all for their third game in four days.
The following players have been ruled out for Tuesday, the final game of a four-game homestand for the Pacers. Then, they’re on the road for their next six games.
Andrew Nembhard
Aaron Nesmith
Pascal Siakam
T.J. McConnell
Bennedict Mathurin
That’s in addition to Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin already being out.
Center Micah Potter is a new addition to the injury report, dealing with a left hip contusion.
The Jazz will be shorthanded as well.
Keyonte George, Walker Kessler, and Georges Niang (Haliburton’s close friend) have been ruled out. Kevin Love is doubtful and Kyle Anderson is questionable.
That was before the Jazz reportedly agreed to a deal with the Grizzlies — which would include Anderson, Niang, Taylor Hendricks and Walter Clayton Jr. You might remember Hendricks from the 2023 NBA Draft; the Pacers selected Jarace Walker.
After being ruled out earlier in the day, Jusuf Nurkic has been upgraded to available to that the Jazz have the minimum number of players available.
Obi Toppin Update
Rick Carlisle said there would not be an update on Toppin until Feb. 1. Now that we’re there, here’s what the team is saying about Toppin’s recovery from right foot surgery exactly three months ago.
According to Carlisle, Toppin is ahead of schedule and back doing some on-court work.
“But it’ll be a while,” he said. “It’ll be a bit longer.”
Toppin absence has been felt this season by Indiana, especially as it lacks a starting-caliber center. He would’ve been productive, and helped ease the burden on Siakam in the frontcourt.
3s at Home For … Eggs?
More than two years ago, Carlisle spearheaded a new initiative, Drive & Dish, to help with food insecurity.
That program, which is run through the Pacers Foundation, continues to grow.
Every Pacers 3-pointer at Gainbridge Fieldhouse will now deliver more than just excitement and Boom Baby!. Each one will also result in three cases of eggs — each containing 540 eggs — being donated by parents Kroger and MPS Egg Farms and HATCH for Hunger.
Ultimately, they expect to deliver more than 100,000 eggs to families in need.
"We’re really excited about this new Drive & Dish partnership and what it means for families across Indiana," said Corey Wilson, PS&E’s SVP of Community Engagement. “This initiative will help feed thousands of Hoosiers, and that’s a powerful way we can make an impact beyond the game. Drive & Dish continues to show how basketball can bring people together to support those who need it most.”
The Pacers (13-37) average 12.6 made 3s per game, which would be about 7,020 eggs per game.
“This is greatly appreciated,” Carlisle said before Monday’s game. “This has been a very successful initiative. It’s very important. It’s been supported by our ownership to make sure that this goes on for some time, and we’re expanding it to some other cities in Indiana. So very, very grateful for these partners.”