Kelly

Oubre

Nesmith, who missed the Pacers’ third preseason game with a hamstring injury, returned to practice on Thursday. He wasn’t available for Friday’s preseason finale against the Bucks, but his ability to practice bodes well for his availability for the regular-season opener on October 21. If Nesmith can’t play, Kelly Oubre Jr. would replace him in the starting lineup.

With Tyrese Haliburton sitting out with a minor ankle injury, the Pacers inserted Oubre into the starting lineup on Saturday. The overall stat line was underwhelming, but he shot well, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. The move to Indiana limits Oubre’s fantasy ceiling because of the Pacers’ wing depth, but he may still be worth streaming at times.

Oubre, 30, is an 11-year NBA veteran set to join his sixth team in the Pacers. The small forward most recently completed a three-year tenure with the 76ers where he averaged 14.9 points. He shot a career-high 36 percent from behind the three-point line last year. Oubre still doesn’t have much of a fantasy ceiling, but should be a reliable late round option once again next year.

After totaling 41 points in Games 2 and 3, Oubre was limited to 10 points in Sunday’s series finale. While this performance was disappointing, the forward’s overall showing this season should boost his value in free agency this summer. A return to Philadelphia would limit Oubre’s fantasy ceiling in 2026-27, but he should be a reliable late-round option, sitting just outside the top-100 in category league formats.

Oubre’s offensive output has increased in each game of the 76ers’ second-round series, with the veteran wing doing his best to supplement Philadelphia’s stars. However, the team’s lack of depth has proven costly, with Oubre and the other starters seemingly running out of gas late in games. After producing a 12-point fourth quarter in Game 2, the 76ers scored 18 in the final quarter of Game 3. Oubre’s performances won’t do much for his fantasy value in 2026-27, but he has been one of the few bright spots for the 76ers in this series. Philadelphia will look to avoid the series sweep on Sunday afternoon.

George and Kelly Oubre Jr. (12/5/1/1/1 with one three-pointer) were the only 76ers’ starters to make more than 50 percent of their shot attempts in Game 1. Given how hard the 76ers had to work to get out of the first round, erasing a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Celtics, it was no surprise that they looked fatigued in Game 1. Since Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid will be the focus of New York’s defense, George’s ability to have a big series could be a deciding factor in the 76ers’ favor.

Maxey shot the ball well in Game 4 and committed just one turnover, but the 76ers did not have enough firepower to run with the Celtics. Backcourt sidekick VJ Edgecombe (6/4/1/1) and wing Kelly Oubre Jr. (two points, four rebounds, one assist and one block) shot a combined 2-of-15 from the field, and the 76ers could not overcome those struggles, even with Joel Embiid back in the lineup. Maxey and the 76ers now head to Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday, needing a win to stave off elimination.

Oubre is available after being considered questionable on the 76ers’ initial injury report. He’ll occupy his usual place in the starting lineup and should log heavy minutes. Oubre played 40 minutes in Game 3 on Friday.

Oubre, who logged 40 minutes in Game 3 on Friday, is dealing with a sore right adductor. If he cannot play on Sunday, Quentin Grimes is the player most likely to move into the starting lineup.

While George finished Sunday’s defeat with solid percentages, the 76ers will have little chance of competing if he’s only attempting eight shots from the field. By comparison, Kelly Oubre Jr. (10/7/2) shot 5-of-14 from the field, including 0-of-5 from beyond the arc. With Joel Embiid (appendicitis) out indefinitely, George will have to be much closer to Tyrese Maxey’s “1B” than he was on Sunday for the 76ers to have any chance of being competitive in this series.