Indiana

Pacers

Jackson finished the season strong with 12.7 points per game and 5.3 assists per game in seven games in April. While the 27-year-old guard certainly showed some promise, it still remains to be seen if he’ll factor into the Pacers’ rotation next year when the team is healthy.

Walker started and had 17 points against the 76ers on Friday, but is set to miss Sunday’s game against the Pistons with a left foot sprain. The 22-year-old small forward saw a major playing time increase due to injuries ahead of him, but shot just 41.9 percent from the field. It remains to be seen if he can crack the Pacers’ rotation when the team is fully healthy.

Sheppard will miss a fifth straight game to wrap up the regular season. Kam Jones, Quenton Jackson and Jalen Slawson should all take on extra minutes with Sheppard out. Sheppard is in the final year of his rookie contract in 2026-27 and profiles as their fourth guard behind a healthy Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard.

Brown will be good to go and should play a significant role in this game. He played 27 minutes in Friday’s loss, but Indiana will be even more shorthanded for this one. Brown will continue to start.

Brown started and played 27 minutes in Friday’s loss to the 76ers, offering limited production. He should remain in the starting lineup if available for Sunday’s season finale; Jalen Slawson is a potential replacement in the lineup if Brown sits.

While Walker started Friday’s loss to the 76ers, Sheppard did not play. If available, they’ll take on their usual roles, with Sheppard providing depth off the bench. And there will still be rotation minutes available to Jalen Slawson.

Nembhard and McConnell remain out for the Pacers’ season finale, leaving the Pacers to once again rely on Quenton Jackson and Kam Jones to handle the point guard responsibilities.

The expectations for Huff were high entering this season due to the lack of other center options for the Pacers. While he has had the best season of his career, most of his value has been tied to his shot blocking, which has certainly been impressive. He matched his season high for swats in this one, but he also made a contribution on the glass. This was just the third time this season that Huff finished with double-digit rebounds. This was a fun season, but he will likely return to being a depth big behind Ivica Zubac next season.

Potter has started three of the Pacers’ last four games, and in each of those starts, he recorded a double-double. Potter signed a two-year deal with Indiana in December to help fill out some of the minutes at center. He’ll continue to play a significant role for them in their final game of the season on Sunday against the Pistons. However, it is unlikely he plays a significant role next season when the team is fully healthy.

Walker led Indiana in scoring in this game, but it wasn’t enough for them to get a second straight win. Walker has had a strong third season in the league and has taken advantage of the extra opportunity, but he hasn’t been able to shoot efficiently or contribute much defensively. Walker has shown some flashes, but it is difficult to project him playing a significant role when Indiana is healthy next season.