Isaiah

Jackson

Huff has reached double figures in five straight, with Monday’s point total being his highest since November 19 (season-high 20 vs. Charlotte). He’s been the starting center the last three games, with Isaiah Jackson (6/3/0/1/2 in 16 minutes) being pushed to the bench. While iJax is the Pacers’ former first-round pick, Huff has been more consistently productive, and he’s received more opportunities as a result.

Jackson was bumped to the bench for Friday’s game, and he wasn’t effective in that role. However, he was able to make a large impact in this one. Both Pacers bigs had success, as Jay Huff, who started at center, contributed 14 points, four blocks and four triples. Chicago allows a lot of paint points, so this was a favorable matchup, but it was still good to see both centers turn in strong stat lines. However, this is likely a one-time thing and not the start of a productive run for both.

Sheppard and Huff will enter the starting unit in place of Andrew Nembhard (quad) and Isaiah Jackson. Sheppard will get the nod instead of T.J. McConnell, though McConnell should still see a bump in minutes. Huff will replace Jackson as the starting center, though both should continue to split the minutes down low.

Mathurin is back and will make his first appearance since October 25, as he returns from a foot injury. As a result, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl will head back to the bench. The other change is Jackson, who replaces Tony Bradley in the starting five. Mathurin’s minutes will likely be limited, but he’s worth rostering given the Pacers’ lack of consistent scorers.

This was a second straight start for Bradley, and while he wasn’t great, he was able to score in double figures. It close to a minutes split between Bradley, Isaiah Jackson and Jay Huff, with all three playing between 14 and 17 minutes. All of them will continue to play, but none has separated from the others enough to justify being rostered in standard leagues.

According to Cleaning the Glass, Huff has played 21 percent of his minutes this season at power forward, and that was his role on Sunday. He recorded his first double-double of the season, hitting double digits in scoring for the second time and in rebounds for the first. Isaiah Jackson (12/6/1/0/1 in 21 minutes) also recorded a solid stat line, but he and Huff played 21 and 22 minutes, respectively. That’s the issue for both, especially with Pascal Siakam returning after sitting out Sunday’s game for rest reasons. Jackson is the player whom more fantasy managers have invested in, but Huff has provided greater fantasy value.

Jackson had plenty of hype during the preseason due to the lack of other center options in Indiana. He has started all but one game, but he was largely unproductive to start the year. However, over the last three games, he’s averaging 13.3 points and 9.7 rebounds, and this was his first double-double of the year. Jackson is currently rostered in just eight percent of Yahoo! leagues and still has three more games left this week.

Indiana made this move to open up a roster spot to sign Mac McClung. Wiseman, who started on Saturday, will now enter free agency, leaving Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff and Tony Bradley as the center options for the Pacers.

Due to his team’s many injuries on the perimeter, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has to go with a bigger lineup on Sunday. Huff and Jackson start, with the latter replacing James Wiseman in the starting lineup. With Bennedict Mathurin (toe) out, Nesmith and Siakam shift up a position, while Huff is the starting power forward.

Jackson and Wiseman suffered season-ending Achilles injuries last season, so there were questions as to whether they’d be available for the Pacers’ second game in as many nights. They’ll play, but neither has been good enough to merit being rostered in any fantasy leagues. Fantasy managers needing frontcourt help should focus on Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker, prioritizing the former.