Indiana Pacers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Central Notes: Stewart, Antetokounmpo, Pacers, Cavaliers

December 7th, 2025 at 6:05pm CST by Eli Cohen

Isaiah Stewart has become an elite defender off the bench for the Pistons over the last few years, and his teammates and coaching staff are making sure people know it.

“He’s the best defensive center in the league and it’s not close,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, per Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). “And I think it’s time that everybody who watches basketball recognizes it.”

Pistons star Cade Cunningham disagreed slightly with his coach’s assessment — but only because he felt Bickerstaff didn’t go far enough with his praise.

“I think he’s the best defensive player in the league,” Cunningham said, according to Sankofa (Twitter video link). “I would love to see him get a Defensive Player of the Year award, ’cause I think he deserves it. I see the best defenders in the league all the time, and I’m thankful I don’t have to see Stew.”

Stewart is currently averaging 2.0 blocks in just 22.5 minutes per night, and has five games with at least four blocks this season.

“There will never be a shot that goes up that Stew doesn’t contest,” Ausar Thompson said, per Sankofa (Twitter link). “He puts his body on the line every night. It’s beautiful to watch.”

One thing holding Stewart back in award discussions is the league-imposed minutes restriction. A player must play 20 or more minutes in at least 63 games and 15-plus in at least two more to be eligible for awards like MVP or Defensive Player of the Year. Stewart has missed three games already and has played fewer than 20 minutes in six more.

We have more from around the Central Division:

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the hottest name in the rumor mill these days, but he recently took to the media to state his desire to stay with the Bucks. “There are people who see a door, who want to hurry up and escape through that door,” Antetokounmpo told NBA on Prime’s Chris Haynes (Twitter video link). “I see a wall and I want to run through the wall and make things work.” Haynes adds that the two-time MVP says his only focus is getting healthy and being there for his team. Kurt Helin of NBC Sports writes that there’s no doubt Antetokounmpo wants to make things work with the Bucks, and speculates that any trade involving him may not happen until at least the offseason.
The Pacers got a sorely-needed road win on Friday against the Bulls, Dustin Dopirak writes for the Indy Star. Head coach Rick Carlisle is aware of the talent deficiency the team is facing on most nights and how it limits them. “A lot of elements right now have to be in place for us to be an effective road team against a team like Chicago,” Carlisle said. The effort was led by Pascal Siakam, who had 36 points and 10 rebounds while hitting five three-pointers. After starting 2-16, Indiana has won three of its past five games.
The Cavaliers were booed at home during Saturday night’s loss to the undermanned Warriors, Chris Fedor writes for Cleveland.com. It was the team’s fifth loss in seven games. “Can’t keep getting in this position,” Donovan Mitchell said.
“Shouldn’t come down to it. All due respect and credit to them, but the consistent thing is we get down and then we start playing. There’s no switch to flip. Until there’s a change in that, we’re going to keep being in these positions where sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t, and we have to fix it.” Head coach Kenny Atkinson agreed with his star’s assessment, adding, “We need a reset right now to rest our bodies and get our principles. You always take lessons from struggles.”

Central Notes: Green, Robinson, Bulls, Collins, Thompson

December 6th, 2025 at 8:30am CST by Dana Gauruder

The Bucks, already reeling from Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s calf strain, have another injury issue to deal with heading into their matchup with the Pistons on Saturday. Guard A.J. Green suffered a shoulder injury in their loss to Philadelphia on Friday and will undergo an MRI today.

“Losing A.J. Green hurts you,” head coach Doc Rivers said, per Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “We can’t sustain much more, especially with guys that make shots. You’ve still got to figure out ways to win games.”

Here’s more from the Central Division:

After missing a couple of games with an ankle sprain, Pistons wing Duncan Robinson played a pivotal role in the team’s six-point victory over Portland on Friday. Robinson, who was acquired in a sign-and-trade with Miami over the summer, scored eight of his 14 points during the fourth quarter. “He relishes those moments,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Since we’ve had [Duncan], you would just watch him and he’s not afraid of the moment. He loves the moment, and he knows it’s what this team needs. He is one of our best catch-and-shoot guys off the move, and he knows how to create those shots for him[self] – stretch the floor, create that space. But [he’s] got nerves of steel and a ton of courage.”
The Bulls’ woes continued on Friday. They endured their sixth straight loss, falling to the Pacers, 120-105. “It’s still a very long season,” guard Coby White said, per Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune. “I’ve been through the ups and downs here for seven years now. The most important thing is we stick together through this. The season’s always going to be filled with adversities. We got a chance to change the narrative right now. The most important thing for me is we don’t let go of the rope and we do this thing together.”
Bulls big man Zach Collins made his season debut on Friday after suffering a fractured wrist in the final game of the preseason. The Pacers targeted him on defense immediately, according to Poe, taking advantage of his sluggish pace of play after a month-and-a-half on the sidelines. He finished with eight points and six rebounds in 21 minutes.
Ethan Thompson made his NBA debut with the Pacers on Monday after signing a two-way deal last weekend. He had appeared in 194 G League games before getting his big break. “The heart was racing fast because it’s something you look forward to your whole life,” he told Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star. “Being able to go out there, and then once the ball went in, I was able to calm myself down and then it just became basketball. Definitely leading up to the moment, a lot of fun thoughts racing.” Thompson played 34 minutes on Friday, contributing 11 points, two rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Siegel’s Latest: H. Jones, Poole, Pacers, Warriors, Cavs, Heat

December 5th, 2025 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Pelicans have long signaled that forward Herbert Jones is off limits in trade talks, and that stance didn’t change when Joe Dumars was hired to run the front office in the spring, writes Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.

However, according to Siegel, with the Pelicans off to a miserable 3-20 start to the season and Dumars seemingly becoming more open to the idea of major changes, the odds of a deal involving Jones have grown “exponentially” in recent months. After signing a contract extension in July, Jones isn’t currently eligible to be traded, but that will restriction will lift on January 14, a few weeks before this season’s deadline.

Jordan Poole‘s status with the Pelicans will also be worth monitoring this winter, Siegel writes, pointing out that Jeremiah Fears‘ emergence as Dejounte Murray‘s potential return in the new year are factors that could make Poole expendable.

After being acquired by the Pelicans in the offseason, Poole got off to a shaky start this fall and has missed the past month with a quad strain. The 26-year-old also doesn’t have an especially team-friendly contract — he’s owed $31.8MM this season and $34MM next season – so his value would probably be pretty limited.

Here are a few more items of interest from Siegel’s latest round-up of rumors from across the NBA:

While Pacers role players like T.J. McConnell, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard have drawn plenty of interest in recent years, Indiana is unlikely to make major changes to its roster this season, since the team believes it can be a contender again in 2026/27 with Tyrese Haliburton back in the lineup, according to Siegel. If the Pacers do make an in-season move, Bennedict Mathurin is considered their most likely trade candidate, Siegel adds, since he’s on an expiring contract and is eligible for restricted free agency over the summer.
Siegel believes that if Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo requests a trade and the Warriors make an offer, it’s more likely to be centered around Jimmy Butler than Draymond Green. According to Siegel, trading Green is “not something the Warriors plan on doing,” given his long-time importance to the organization.
Teams around the league are keeping a close eye on the Cavaliers, who are off to an underwhelming 13-10 start, with rival executives wondering if the team might listen to inquires on starting center Jarrett Allen, per Siegel. Allen is earning $20MM this season before his three-year, $90.7MM extension begins in July.
Viewed entering the season as possible deadline sellers, the 14-8 Heat are now widely viewed as more likely to be buyers, with forward Andrew Wiggins considered unlikely to be moved unless it’s in a deal that upgrades Miami’s roster, says Siegel.

Injury Notes: Sheppard, Dort, Caruso, Oubre, Hornets

December 4th, 2025 at 7:20pm CST by Rory Maher

Pacers guard Ben Sheppard has been diagnosed with a left calf strain and will be out for at least Friday’s game against Chicago, the team announced in a press release (Twitter link).

As Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star writes (subscriber link), the Pacers have been absolutely ravaged by injuries this season, particularly in the backcourt. Sheppard, a third-year guard out of Belmont, had been one the few exceptions to that — he was one of only four players on the roster — and the only guard — to play every game in 2025/26.

Sheppard had been playing some of his best basketball of the season recently, Dopirak notes. The 24-year-old primarily plays as a wing but had to man the point at times amid several injuries to teammates. In more of an off-ball role, he had 14 points (on 5-of-5 shooting), five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 18 minutes during Wednesday’s loss to Denver.

“He’s playing hard, he’s playing fast, he’s playing unselfish,” head coach Rick Carlisle said after Wednesday’s game. “He’s applying pressure full court. These are elements that we need. Him shooting the ball, 5-of-5 tonight is no surprise. He can shoot the ball. The key thing is that through all the challenges, he’s just remained true to who he is and stepped into the shots that are his shots. That’s his job to do and that’s everybody’s job to do.”

Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:

Thunder wing Luguentz Dort will miss his second straight game on Friday due to a strained adductor, tweets Clemente Almanza of Thunder Wire. Oklahoma City faces Dallas tomorrow evening. Dort, a member of the All-Defensive First Team in 2024/25, missed five games earlier this season with an upper right trap strain. Thunder guard Alex Caruso will be out Friday as well — he’s dealing with a quad contusion which will cause him to miss his third straight contest.
Veteran wing Kelly Oubre Jr., who is out with a sprained LCL in his left knee, will miss at least one more week, the Sixers announced today (Twitter link via Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com). According to Philadelphia, Oubre is progressing well in his rebab. Oubre, who turns 30 next week, has missed the past eight games and will be out for at least three more.
Collin Sexton was forced out of Wednesday’s game due to an injury, which has been diagnosed as a left quadriceps strain, per the Hornets (Twitter link). The 26-year-old guard has been ruled out of Friday’s game at Toronto. Three other Hornets — Tre Mann (right knee soreness), Brandon Miller (left shoulder) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (left ankle contusion) are questionable to play against the Raptors.

Central Notes: Bulls Injuries, Cavs, Mathews, Furphy

December 4th, 2025 at 9:18am CST by Luke Adams

The Bulls got good news on guard Coby White on Wednesday after he experienced some tightness in his left calf earlier in the week. White missed Wednesday’s game vs. Brooklyn, but said his MRI results were clean and that he’s considered day-to-day, per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link).

White hopes to return to action on Friday vs. Indiana, Johnson adds, though the 25-year-old acknowledged that Sunday vs. Golden State might be a more realistic goal, as the Bulls will likely exercise caution with their top scorer.

While the update on White was relatively positive, another Bulls guard, Kevin Huerter, has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain after exiting Monday’s game early due to that injury. According to Johnson (Twitter link), head coach Billy Donovan said on Wednesday evening that Huerter will be reevaluated in one week, with no guarantee he’ll be ready to return at that time.

Donovan also didn’t have great news on forward Isaac Okoro, who has missed the past six games with a nerve issue the team is referring to as left lumbar radiculopathy.

“When he gets into certain extensions going backward, he gets pain down his leg that they’re trying to resolve,” Donovan said of the defensive ace. “To be quite honest, it’s going to take time. Until they can eliminate, that it’s going to be hard for him to come back and play.”

We have more from around the Central:

After snapping a three-game losing streak with a solid win over Indiana on Monday, the Cavaliers lost 122-110 to Portland on Wednesday and now have a 13-10 record this fall after going 64-18 last season. Star guard Donovan Mitchell isn’t impressed with what he’s seeing from the team, but he doesn’t want to overreact to the slump either, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required). “Concern is a scary word to use with you guys,” Mitchell told reporters after Wednesday’s loss. “I don’t want to use it. It’s upsetting, but there’s room for growth. I’m not going to sit here and be like, ‘Oh, the sky’s falling and we’re panicking.’ We have to play better. We just have to be better on all accounts. I don’t really have another message than that.”
Pacers wing Garrison Mathews admits he was “a little surprised” to receive a second 10-day contract after making 2-of-13 three-pointers and going scoreless in four of five outings during his first 10 days with the team, per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. Indiana’s trust in Mathews has been rewarded in the past two games, as he scored 24 points and shot 6-of-7 from the floor in 45 minutes against Cleveland and Denver. “This is what we felt was coming,” head coach Rick Carlisle said. “That the work he did the previous 10, 12 days or whatever it was to get conditioning, to get rhythm, for all that to bear fruit. We thought bringing him back was the right thing.”
Pacers guard Johnny Furphy made his return on Wednesday after missing a month due to a left ankle sprain. Furphy didn’t make much of an impact in his first game back vs. Denver, going scoreless with a pair of rebounds and a turnover in 16 minutes. Still, Carlisle said during his pregame media session that it was good to have the second-year guard back, noting that he brings “a different element,” and that the banged-up Pacers “need all the depth we can get” (Twitter link via Dopirak).

Central Notes: Holland, Sasser, Cavs, Bulls, Thompson

December 2nd, 2025 at 12:17pm CST by Luke Adams

After starting each of the Pistons‘ first 20 games of the Season, sharpshooter Duncan Robinson sat out on Monday vs. Atlanta due to a right ankle sprain. As Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press relays (via Twitter), head coach J.B. Bickerstaff expressed confidence before the game that “other guys (would) step up” in Robinson’s absence, and reserve forward Ron Holland made good on his coach’s prediction.

Holland had 17 points, six rebounds, and a pair of steals in just over 17 minutes of action, playing a key role as the Pistons eked out a 99-98 victory over the Hawks.

“He was unbelievable,” Bickerstaff said, per Sankofa. “He was the spark for us. We struggled tonight. We did, we struggled tonight. I thought Ron gave us a ton of energy, a fire, the way he just competed. I thought he was phenomenal tonight.”

As Sankofa writes, Holland is among the players whose energy helps fuel a Pistons team that ranks among the league leaders in several hustle categories, including points off turnovers, deflections, loose balls recovered, and shots contested.

“Coming off the bench for me, it allows me to slow the game down and being able to watch where I can really shine and being able to see what guys’ tendencies are, and to go in and make an immediate impact,” Holland said. “I definitely love coming off the bench with this team because one, it’s gonna be nights like this where we start off kinda slow. That’s what the bench mob is for, we get in and bring that spark and the energy we need.”

Here’s more from around the Central:

After initially not responding to treatment like the team had hoped, Pistons guard Marcus Sasser‘s right hip injury is trending in the right direction, per Bickerstaff (Twitter link via Sankofa). Sasser remained out on Monday, but the reason cited was “return to competition conditioning” and he has been playing 3-on-3 scrimmages, so his season debut likely isn’t far off.
After losing three straight games, the Cavaliers bounced back on Monday with a resounding 135-119 victory over Indiana. According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required), star guard Donovan Mitchell delivered a pointed message to his teammates after Sunday’s loss in the hopes of getting the Cavs back on the right track. “This ain’t last year. I told you at the beginning of the year, they coming for us — as they should,” Mitchell said of his message. “They’re coming for (Evan Mobley‘s) Defensive Player of the Year. They’re coming for my first team All-NBA. They coming for Kenny (Atkinson)‘s Coach of the Year. They coming for all that. We’re not the underdogs, we’re the hunted. We need to go out there and continue to act like it.”
Bulls guard Coby White will undergo imaging after missing Monday’s game due to some tightness in his left calf, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Big man Zach Collins, meanwhile, has been cleared for contact as he makes his way back from wrist surgery and the hope is that he’ll practice with Chicago’s G League team this week, Cowley notes. The banged-up Bulls lost another player in Monday’s loss to Orlando when wing Kevin Huerter exited after six minutes of action due to what the team referred to as an adductor injury. It’s unclear if Huerter will miss additional time as a result of that ailment.
Ethan Thompson‘s new two-way deal with the Pacers covers two years, Hoops Rumors has learned. That means Thompson won’t become eligible for free agency until the 2027 offseason if he plays out the full contract.

Pacers Re-Sign Garrison Mathews To Second 10-Day Deal

December 1st, 2025 at 4:00pm CST by Rory Maher

4:00 pm: Mathews’ new 10-day contract is official, the Pacers confirmed in a press release.

3:25 pm: The Pacers have been granted another hardship exception and will use it to re-sign sharpshooter Garrison Mathews to a second 10-day contract, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter).

Hardship exceptions are granted when at least four players have missed three or more consecutive games and are projected to be out for at least two more weeks. Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles), Obi Toppin (foot), Aaron Nesmith (knee), and Kam Jones (back) all appear to fit that bill for Indiana.

Mathews, who is in his seventh NBA season, starred in college at Lipscomb prior to going undrafted in 2019. He has played for Washington, Houston, Atlanta and now Indiana during his time in the league.

The 29-year-old wing signed a non-guaranteed camp deal with the Knicks earlier this fall but was released before the season began, making him a free agent. In 319 career games (17.3 minutes per contest), Mathews has averaged 6.4 points and 1.7 rebounds while shooting 38.0% from long distance.

In five games with the Pacers so far in 2025/26, Mathews has played a modest role, averaging 9.2 MPG and converting 2-of-13 shots from three-point range. It’s worth noting that players cannot sign three 10-day contracts with the same team — Indiana would have to release someone if it wanted to retain Mathews beyond his second 10-day deal.

Mathews will earn $165,197 over the course of his 10 days with the Pacers, while the team takes on a cap hit of $131,970.

Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson Named Players Of Week

December 1st, 2025 at 2:50pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Lakers guard Luka Doncic and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson have been named the Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, according to the NBA (Twitter links).

Doncic led the Lakers to three wins during the week of November 24-30 while averaging 37.3 points, 10.3 assists and 8.7 rebounds per contest. Those performances, which included a 43-point outburst against the Clippers, increased his league-leading scoring average to 35.1 points per game.

Brunson lifted the Knicks to four wins by averaging 28.8 points and 4.5 assists per game while knocking down 40.7 percent of his three-point attempts. He matched his season high on Friday by racking up 37 points against Milwaukee.

Doncic and Brunson, of course, were backcourt partners in Dallas. Brunson has earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors seven times since joining the Knicks, while this is the first time Doncic has achieved the feat since becoming a Laker.

The other nominees in the West were Zach Edey (Grizzlies), Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Jamal Murray (Nuggets) and Austin Reaves (Lakers).

Desmond Bane (Magic), Jaylen Brown (Celtics), Tyler Herro (Heat), Jalen Johnson (Hawks) and Pascal Siakam (Pacers) were also nominated in the East.

Central Notes: Garland, Ball, White, Furphy, Siakam

December 1st, 2025 at 1:57pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Cavaliers will be without a handful of players for Monday’s matchup against the Pacers. Darius Garland (toe injury management) and Lonzo Ball (illness) have been added to the list of players who won’t be available. Larry Nance Jr., Max Strus, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill had already been listed as out of action due to various ailments.

Here’s more from the Central Division:

Coby White, who has already missed a chunk of the Bulls season due to a right calf strain, is listed as doubtful with left calf tightness and congestion for tonight’s game against the Magic, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network tweets. White has played five games, averaging 24.2 points and 6.2 assists per contest. Noa Essengue, Jalen Smith and Isaac Okoro are listed as out, with Zach Collins – who has yet to make his season debut – considered doubtful.
Pacers forward Johnny Furphy, who suffered a left ankle sprain in early November, was assigned to the G League’s Noblesville Boom over the weekend and then recalled, the team’s PR department tweets. The 2024 second round selection has appeared in three games this season after coming off the bench in 50 regular season games during his rookie campaign. He appears to be nearing a return after practicing with the Boom.
With Tyrese Haliburton out for the season, Pascal Siakam is now the No. 1 option for the Pacers. He’s put together back-to-back 24-point outings as the team doubled its win total with victories over the Wizards and Bulls this weekend. Indiana got off to a woeful 2-16 start after making the NBA Finals last season. “You can’t take it for granted,” Siakam told Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star. “Every single night you go out there, and when you’re used to winning you take it for granted. I think every day we go out there, every single possession that we win, every single run that we have, every single win, we gotta take it and enjoy it and know — which is the most important — know what it took for us to get to that. We’re tired of losing. We can’t keep losing. That has to be our mindset. We have to give everything for that.”

Bulls Considered Unlikely To Trade For Anthony Davis

December 1st, 2025 at 10:01am CST by Arthur Hill

The Bulls’ front office has engaged in internal discussions about trading for Mavericks big man Anthony Davis, according to Jamal Collier of ESPN. Davis is viewed as a potential solution for the team’s poor interior defense, but sources tell Collier that Chicago is reluctant to make any move that involves giving up a portion of its young core until it becomes more competitive.

“I don’t think going out and chasing X megastar is the way to proceed — at least today,” one source said.

Collier points out that the Bulls have plenty of ammunition for such a deal. They own their first-round picks for the next seven years, along with a 2026 first-rounder from Portland that’s top-14 protected. The team could also have nearly $70MM in cap room for next summer’s free agent market.

Trade speculation surrounding Davis has increased amid Dallas’ 6-15 start to the season and the emerging stardom of rookie forward Cooper Flagg. The Mavs may decide to embrace a youth movement, but Davis’ injury history and his pricey contract make him a significant trade risk. He has only played six games this season and recently returned after an extended absence caused by a left calf strain.

Collier’s information on the Bulls’ interest in Davis is part of a larger story about what has caused the team to fall to 9-10 after a 6-1 start. There was an early-season belief that coach Billy Donovan’s up-tempo style had the team headed in the right direction, but opponents seemed to have adjusted to it over the past few weeks.

Donovan admits that he has patterned the approach after the Pacers after watching them reach the NBA Finals last season.

“That’s who we have to be,” he said. “We have to be better than the sum of our parts. … Everybody sees Indiana play, and the thing that everybody goes to right away is oh, their pace, their pace, their pace. The one thing that Indiana probably doesn’t get enough credit for is yes, they play really, really fast and (Tyrese) Haliburton‘s a unique play-maker back there, but the physicality of those guys defensively is where our evolution has to continue.”

The Bulls have entrusted Josh Giddey, who was acquired from Oklahoma City before the start of last season, to lead the team in the Haliburton role. However, there are questions about whether the rest of the roster is good enough to ever reach that level. Collier notes that Indiana has been much better defensively than Chicago, and it has a second star in Pascal Siakam to pair with Haliburton.

“They have Haliburton, who is an All-Star, and they have Siakam,” a Bulls source told Collier. “If Giddey can develop into an All-Star and be what Hali was, when do we pull the trigger to get our Siakam?”

Management still views Giddey, Coby White, Matas Buzelis and 2025 first-round pick Noa Essengue as its future core, team sources told Collier. Essengue, who won’t turn 19 until later this month, has been brought along slowly and didn’t make his season debut until November 22. Those same sources state that the Bulls understand they need to keep adding to that core to be successful and they plan to make moves in that direction.