After losing two straight, the Indiana Pacers will travel to Toronto to take on the Raptors in their final NBA Cup game of the year. This will be the second time these two teams face each other this season. On November 18, the Pacers lost to the Raptors, who were without star Scottie Barnes, by a score of 130-119.
Ahead of tonight's matchup, the Pacers are 9-12 and own the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors, on the other hand, are 6-15 and have won four of their last seven games. Though the Raptors are a bottom team in the Eastern Conference, they are just three games behind the Pacers in the standings. If the Raptors are aiming for a postseason appearance, this could prove to be a big game for them.
Here is the full injury report for the Pacers and Raptors ahead of their NBA Cup finale.
12/3 Pacers injury report vs. Raptors
- Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) - OUT
- Andrew Nembhard (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
- Aaron Nesmith (ankle) - OUT
- Ben Sheppard (oblique) - OUT
- James Wiseman (Achilles) - OUT
After missing 12 consecutive games, Andrew Nembhard made his return in the Pacers' loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. In the game, he record 14 points on 6-for-11 shooting, two rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 15 minutes. Though he is listed as questionable due to a knee injury, head coach Rick Carlisle said he expects the Canadian native to play against Toronto.
Aaron Nesmith, who has been out of action since the Pacers' loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on November 1, remains sidelined for the team. Additionally, Ben Sheppard is set to miss his ninth straight game due to an oblique injury. According to Carlisle, via the Indianapolis Star's Dustin Dopirak, Nesmith and Sheppard are both "weeks away" from returning.
12/3 Raptors injury report vs. Pacers
- Bruce Brown (knee, conditioning) - OUT
- Gradey Dick (calf) - OUT
- Kelly Olynyk (back) - OUT
- Immanuel Quickley (elbow) - OUT
Old friend Bruce Brown, who underwent knee surgery in September, has yet to make his season debut for the Raptors. Though he has reportedly begun ramping up his activity in practice, he still has no concrete timetable for his return.
Brown played 33 games for the Pacers during the 2023-24 season before the team traded him as part of the blockbuster Pascal Siakam deal. Nearly one year into his Raptors career, the former NBA champion reportedly could find himself on a new team sooner rather than later.
Kelly Olynyk, like Brown, is ramping up his conditioning as he prepares for his season debut, though he has already been ruled out against Indiana.
Toronto will also continue to be without second-year guard Gradey Dick, who has missed the team's last four games. The Kansas native is in the midst of a breakout season, averaging 18.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
The Raptors will also be without Immanuel Quickley, who has played just three games this season. Quickley does not have a concrete timetable for his return but could be back by the end of the month.
Where to watch, projected starting lineups
Here is the full guide to watch the Pacers go head-to-head against the Raptors, both with and without cable.
Projected starting lineups
Indiana Pacers
PG: Tyrese Haliburton
SG: Andrew Nembhard
SF: Bennedict Mathurin
PF: Pascal Siakam
C: Myles Turner
Toronto Raptors
PG: Scottie Barnes
SG: Ja'Kobe Walter
SF: Ochai Agbaji
PF: RJ Barrett
C: Jakob Poeltl