Indiana Pacers vs LA Clippers: preview and player stats (Dec 20, 2026)

Injury/Illness - Left Hamstring Strain (2026-11-13, NYK@IND). 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 - Right Knee Soreness (2026-11-13, NYK@IND). Prior reporting (2026-11-12): Nesmith (knee) is questionable for Friday's game against the Knicks. Nesmith picked up a knee injury during Wednesday's game against Washington, and he was ultimately unable to return after being diagnosed with knee soreness. He'll likely test his knee during shootaround and pregame to determine if he can take the court Friday.

Injury/Illness - Right ACL Repair / Surgery (2026-11-13, NYK@IND). 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 (2026-11-13, NYK@IND). Prior reporting (2026-11-12): McConnell is probable for Friday's game against the Knicks due to a right hamstring strain. McConnell continues to land on the injury report with a hamstring issue, but it's a positive sign that he's been listed as probable after being handed a questionable tag ahead of Indiana's previous three games. He's in line to play in a fourth consecutive game after logging a season high in minutes (14) Wednesday night against Washington.

Injury/Illness - Left Meniscus Surgery (2026-11-13, NYK@IND). 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.

Injury/Illness - Left Rotator Cuff Surgery (2026-11-13, OKC@LAC). Prior reporting (2026-08-26): Miller underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn left rotator cuff and will be re-evaluated in six months, per Law Murray of The Athletic. It's a tough break for Miller, who had an opportunity to battle for a reserve role during training camp in the fall. The timeline for a return is likely to keep him on the shelf until after the All-Star break. Miller's extended stay on the sidelines gives Kobe Sanders a chance to crack the Clippers' rotation.

Injury/Illness - Right Heel Surgery (2026-11-13, OKC@LAC). Prior reporting (2026-11-12): Ingram (Achilles) won't play in Friday's game against the Thunder, per Law Murray of The Athletic. Ingram is ramping up his activity as he nears his season debut for the Clippers, but he's not yet cleared for game action amid his Achilles rehab. Until the star forward is ready to suit up, Kris Dunn, Rui Hachimura and Derrick Jones should all hang onto starting roles.

Injury/Illness - Right Knee Injury Management (2026-11-13, OKC@LAC). Prior reporting (2026-10-15): Beal (knee) will not be ready for the start of the regular season, NBA writer Justin Russo reports. Beal is dealing with knee inflammation that will keep him sidelined for Opening Night. While it's unclear how long the Clippers will be without the veteran guard, Darius Garland, Keaton Wagler and Kris Dunn should dominate the backcourt minutes in his absence. Beal's 2025-26 campaign was cut short by a hip injury after he averaged 8.2 points and 1.7 assists in 20.6 minutes across just six regular-season appearances.

Injury/Illness - Right Lisfranc Surgery (2026-11-13, OKC@LAC). Prior reporting (2026-11-10): Niederhauser (foot) is out for Tuesday's game against Phoenix, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com reports. Niederhauser has yet to make an appearance this season for the Clippers while rehabbing from foot surgery. It's unclear at this time when he'll be available to take the court, and he can be considered week-to-week until further notice.

G League - Two-Way (2026-11-13, OKC@LAC).