Ben Sheppard Set for Meniscus Surgery as Pacers Scrape By With Thin Roster

The procedure’s outcome will decide whether Indiana loses a wing for weeks or months and will force short-term lineup changes that test early-season depth.

Overview

Ben Sheppard is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday, Oct. 28, for a left meniscus tear and coach Rick Carlisle said the guard could miss “a few weeks,” which suggests the team is expecting a meniscectomy rather than a longer repair.
Indiana played Monday with just 12 available players after Sheppard, Ivica Zubac, Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell and Johnny Furphy were all sidelined or limited, leaving role minutes to Jarace Walker, Quenton Jackson and Aaron Nesmith.
Zubac walked into the arena without a boot and is “doing better,” but Carlisle gave no return timetable, and Nembhard missed a recent game with a back issue that the team is still evaluating.
Rockets center Steven Adams underwent imaging for a right soleus strain and coach Ime Udoka said Adams will miss at least a week or two and is likely out into November.
Across the league, Washington rookie AJ Dybantsa is increasing on-court work, Hornets players Coby White, Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams are making positive steps with no firm dates, and the Nuggets hope Spencer Jones can debut within the next three games.