Carlisle: Haliburton (hamstring) ‘doing better’

Haliburton is still dealing with a mild left hamstring strain. According to Carlisle, he’s making progress, though his timetable is uncertain. Haliburton’s original timetable of two weeks was set on October 28, which was only 10 days ago. There should be a more informative update on the 26-year-old guard’s health sometime next week.

Oubre did not play in Wednesday’s win over the Grizzlies, the second straight game he’s missed. Braden Smith started alongside Andrew Nembhard and played 23 minutes. The rookie may take on a similar workload if Oubre remains out on Saturday.

Rookie Braden Smith is getting his second career start after playing well last game. The rest of the Pacers lineup is what you would expect without Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac is back in the lineup for Jay Huff.

Nembhard is back after sitting out Monday’s loss to the Hawks. Braden Smith, who dished out 10 assists, isn’t guaranteed to be active given his two-way contract status.

The Pacers only had six healthy players for this game, so everyone that was available played a ton of minutes. That allowed Smith to make the first start of his career, and he took full advantage. Most second-round picks don’t record double-doubles in their first starts, but the special circumstances allowed college basketball’s total assist leader from last season to do just that. Smith is a high-level passer, but he won’t be part of the Pacers’ rotation when the team is healthy. Depending on the injury report ahead of Wednesday’s game, he could end up starting again.

Between actual injuries and injury-management situations, the Pacers will have eight active players on Monday. And one, Obi Toppin (back), is active only to meet the eight-player minimum; he won’t play. So Smith, the NCAA’s all-time assist leader, will start at point guard. If the other available Pacers can knock down some shots, it would be unsurprising if Smith hit double figures in assists.

Carlisle relayed to reporters that Haliburton is dealing with a mild left hamstring strain. He said Haliburton is considered week-to-week, though he won’t play for the next two weeks before being re-evaluated. It’s not great news for Haliburton, but it certainly could’ve been worse. Andrew Nembhard will likely see the majority of starts at point guard while Haliburton is sidelined.

Haliburton was already questionable for Wednesday’s game, but he won’t be available for it. There is no clarity to this timeline currently, so hopefully head coach Rick Carlisle will provide more either before or after their game against the 76ers. Andrew Nembhard (neck) is questionable, and T.J. McConnell (hamstring) hasn’t played this season. Nembhard will likely be the starting point guard until Haliburton returns, with Quenton Jackson as the next man up. Rookie Braden Smith could also be part of the rotation if Indiana ends up truly shorthanded.

Haliburton’s left hamstring appeared to be giving him trouble during the second half of Monday’s loss to the Bucks, and he’s now on the injury report due to left hamstring tightness. Who would benefit if he sits depends on Andrew Nembhard’s availability (neck), as he is also questionable. Quenton Jackson’s role in the rotation would become more important if Haliburton can’t play.

Haliburton and the Pacers didn’t get the win on Monday, but his being on the floor was a big deal. The Pacers’ point guard played both games of the team’s road back-to-back, logging 35 minutes against the Bucks. Haliburton appeared to get his upper left leg wrapped up during a stint on the bench early in the fourth quarter, but he returned a few minutes later and finished the game.