Indiana Pacers vs Minnesota Timberwolves: preview and player stats (Feb 26, 2027)

Injury/Illness - Left Hamstring Strain (2026-11-15, IND@PHI). Prior reporting (2026-11-11): Head coach Rick Carlisle said Wednesday that Haliburton (hamstring) will miss at least 10 more days, Alex Golden of SI.com reports. Haliburton is still recovering from a left hamstring strain and will need more time to ramp up. Andrew Nembhard should continue seeing increased on-ball duties in Haliburton's stead, while Quenton Jackson and Braden Smith are also candidates for increased burn.

Injury/Illness - Left Hip Soreness / Tightness (2026-11-15, IND@PHI). Prior reporting (2026-11-15): Nembhard is questionable for Sunday's game against the 76ers due to left hip soreness. Losing Nembhard would be a huge blow for the Pacers, as he's been the primary playmaker in the absence of Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) and has dished out at least six assists in his last four games. If he's forced to sit Sunday's contest, Quenton Jackson and two-way guard Braden Smith would be in line to see bigger roles in a depleted backcourt.

Injury/Illness - Left Hand Sprain (2026-11-15, IND@PHI). Prior reporting (2026-11-14): Nesmith (hand) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Philadelphia. Nesmith suffered a left hand sprain in the final seconds of Friday's win over the Knicks and could be held out of Sunday's road game. If the veteran swingman is unable to suit up, Jarace Walker, Quenton Jackson and Jalen Slawson would be candidates to see an uptick in minutes.

Injury/Illness - Right ACL Repair / Surgery (2026-11-15, IND@PHI). Prior reporting (2026-10-30): Furphy (knee) is practicing with the G League's Noblesville Boom, per Alex Golden of SI.com. The Pacers have been pretty quiet regarding Furphy's ACL recovery since the offseason, but it's encouraging to hear some form of progress as the forward begins to ramp up his activity. Although Furphy still lacks a firm timetable for a return and is likely to be brought back slowly, it appears a season debut before the start of the new calendar year is in the cards.

Injury/Illness - Right Hamstring Strain (2026-11-15, IND@PHI). Prior reporting (2026-11-14): McConnell (hamstring) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the 76ers. McConnell missed the Pacers' first nine games of the season due to hamstring problems, and although he still seems to be working through the injury, he's been able to play in each of Indiana's last four contests. The fact that he's been listed as probable is a positive sign that he'll suit up for a fifth straight game Sunday.

Injury/Illness - Left Meniscus Tear (2026-11-15, IND@PHI). Prior reporting (2026-10-28): Head coach Rick Carlise confirmed Sheppard will miss "months" after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, Tony East of Forbes.com reports. Sheppard required a full repair and is without a definitive timetable for a return to action. With Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) expected to miss at least two weeks, Quenton Jackson figures to see a significant uptick in playing time. Two-way player Braden Smith could also see increased action with the parent club.

DiVincenzo (Achilles) remains confident that he'll return during the 2026-27 season, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reports. DiVincenzo is approaching six months since tearing his right Achilles during the first round of the playoffs and has been rehabbing with the expectation that he'll play at some point this season. The veteran guard has sought advice from Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard during his recovery, though Minnesota has yet to establish a timetable for his return.

Edwards underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure on his right knee Thursday, the Timberwolves announced. Edwards underwent debridement surgery in Minnesota, though the team did not provide a timetable for his return. The star guard is expected to make a full recovery, with additional updates coming as he progresses through rehabilitation. Based on previous reporting from ESPN's Shams Charania, Edwards could miss up to two months. Edwards was off to a scorching start this season, averaging 33.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals across four appearances.

Clark (hamstring) has been ruled out for the remainder of Saturday's game against the Bulls, Sarah Todd of The Deseret News reports. Clark tweaked his right hamstring and will not return to tonight's contest. He played three minutes off the bench prior to his exit, leaving more opportunities available for Terrence Shannon Jr. and Bones Hyland.