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  • Shines off bench despite loss
    McConnell notched 23 points (10-17 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), nine rebounds, six assists and one steal in 29 minutes during Saturday's 114-111 loss to Boston in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

    Advice: McConnell came off the bench Saturday despite the fact Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) was unavailable, and the former made a huge impact on both ends of the court once again. Given that McConnell outplayed Ben Sheppard, who started Game 3 in place of Haliburton, it wouldn't be surprising if McConnell moves to the starting lineup in Game 4 with Indiana facing a 3-0 deficit in the series. McConnell is averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in the Eastern Conference Finals. Rotowire.com Sunday, 9:39 am
     
  • T.J. McConnell posts 23/9/6/1 line in Game 3 loss
    T.J. McConnell finished Saturday’s loss to the Celtics with 23 points (10-of-17 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), nine rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one 3-pointer in 29 minutes.

    Advice: While he wasn’t Rick Carlisle’s choice to replace the injured Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) in the starting lineup, McConnell was still in a position where he needed to step up. The veteran point guard came through, recording his first 20-point game since Game 6 of the Pacers’ first-round series against Milwaukee. The workload was also notable from Game 3, as the 29 minutes are the most T.J. has played in a game this postseason. Expect McConnell to take on a similar workload if Haliburton cannot play in Game 4 on Monday. Rotoworld Saturday, 9:04 pm
     
  • Andrew Nembhard scores playoff career-high 32 PTS
    Andrew Nembhard was excellent in Saturday’s 114-111 loss to the Celtics, recording a line of 32 points (12-of-21 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), four rebounds, nine assists, and four 3-pointers in 39 minutes.

    Advice: The Pacers were without Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) for Game 3, and there were questions about who would step up offensively. Nembhard was one of the answers, as he established a new playoff career-high with 32 points. The second-year guard was also responsible for nine assists and just two turnovers, but the last may linger for a while. Nembhard’s pocket was picked by Jrue Holiday in the final seconds, with the Celtics leading by one. While Indiana did get a final opportunity to force overtime, that’s a play Nembhard will likely want back. Game 4 is on Monday, and the Pacers could again be without Haliburton. If so, Nembhard will make for an attractive play in DFS tournaments. Rotoworld Saturday, 8:37 pm
     
  • Lonzo Ball (knee) plans to play in season opener
    Lonzo Ball (left knee surgery) said on his podcast that he plans to play in Chicago’s season opener in October.

    Advice: Ball hasn’t played in over two years, but as of now, he is planning to play this upcoming season. That is a long way away, so a lot could change over the next five months, but he appears to be optimistic. He also explained on his podcast that he had to get a new meniscus from a donor as part of his recovery, which is concerning for his long-term health. Hopefully there will be more updates in the coming months that will paint a clearer picture of what his potential availability could look like to start next season. Rotoworld Friday, 12:53 pm
     
  • Scores 16 points in Game 2 loss
    Nembhard contributed 16 points (6-12 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), two rebounds, five assists and one steal over 26 minutes during Thursday's 126-110 loss to the Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

    Advice: Nembhard extended his run of playoff performances with double-digit points to five, and he's also dished out at least five assists three times during that span. Nembhard might be in line for a more prominent role in the playmaking department if Tyrese Haliburton (leg) doesn't play in Game 3 on Saturday. Rotowire.com Thursday, 8:19 pm
     
  • Andrew Nembhard contributes 16/2/5 line in Game 2
    Andrew Nembhard chipped in 16 points (6-of-12 FGs), two rebounds, five assists, one steal and one triple in Game 2 against the Celtics on Thursday.

    Advice: Outside of Pascal Siakam, Nembhard was really the only other Pacer that was able to get anything going offensively in this game. He had a decent performance, but what’s more important at this point is what he may have to do in their next game. Tyrese Haliburton exited early from this game due to left leg soreness, which is obviously a huge blow to their team. If Haliburton is forced to remain sidelined for Game 3 on Saturday, Nembhard and T.J. McConnell will split the duties at point guard. Rotoworld Thursday, 7:58 pm