Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert is set to return to the court Saturday against the Phoenix Suns after undergoing surgery to remove a small mass on his left kidney in January, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

LeVert has reportedly been "ramping up" in practices to prepare for his return, per Wojnarowski.

Indiana acquired the guard in a four-team deal in January, but his physical revealed a mass on his kidney. He underwent surgery later in the month to treat renal cell carcinoma.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported earlier in March the franchise will be "patient" with LeVert, but he is now set to come back less than two months after the initial cancer diagnosis.

The 26-year-old can make a significant impact on the court when healthy, averaging 18.5 points and 6.0 assists per game in 12 appearances with the Brooklyn Nets this season. He averaged 18.7 points and 4.4 assists during the 2019-20 campaign.

It's the type of scoring production Indiana was looking for when dealing away Victor Oladipo in the same trade.

T.J. Warren going down early in the year with a foot injury has also taken away some key offense from the perimeter.

The Pacers have fallen behind in the playoff race at 16-19 while getting limited contributions outside of Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon. Adding a third reliable scorer could help the team compete with the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

Indiana Pacers swingman Caris LeVert is reportedly "on track" to return to the court during the second half of the season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

LeVert underwent surgery in January to treat renal cell carcinoma of his left kidney.

The team announced the cancer was found during an MRI shortly after the Pacers acquired him as part of a four-team trade with the Brooklyn Nets.

Despite the progress, Charania noted the Pacers do not have a definitive timetable for when he will play.

Though overall health takes precedent, an on-court return would be a massive development for the Pacers.

LeVert joined the team in a trade that sent Victor Oladipo to the Houston Rockets, while T.J. Warren played only four games before suffering a foot injury. That left the Pacers with few dependable perimeter scorers outside of Malcolm Brogdon.

Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner have at least helped the Pacers stay competitive this season. They're sitting just outside the playoffs with a 16-18 record entering Thursday.

LeVert could provide a significant boost for Indiana after averaging 18.5 points and 6.0 assists per game through 12 appearances with the Nets this season.

The 26-year-old averaged 18.7 points per game in 2019-20 as one of the top offensive options for a squad that reached the playoffs despite injuries to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. He has showed the ability to take over games, having scored 43 points against the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this season and 51 points in a win over the Boston Celtics last year.

If he can play at the same level when he returns, LeVert could ensure Indiana will reach the playoffs for the sixth straight season.

Indiana Pacers reserve T.J. McConnell put together a performance for the history books Wednesday in a 114-111 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

T.J. McConnell recorded the 11th triple-double with steals since steals became official.

He's the first to do so off the bench 🤯

(via @EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/1SFZGflc1W

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 4, 2021

McConnell recorded only the 11th triple-double with steals in NBA history since the stat became an official part of box scores in 1973. He's the first to do it off the bench.

McConnell's final line in the win was an astounding 16 points, 13 assists, 10 steals and four rebounds. He also sank all eight of his field-goal attempts and blocked one shot. 

The Arizona alum is the first player to notch a triple-double with points, assists and steals since Mookie Blaylock accomplished the feat with the Atlanta Hawks in 1998 against the Philadelphia 76ers. Kevin Johnson, Alvin Robertson, Clyde Drexler and Fat Lever are the only other players to do it. 

Nine of McConnell's steals occurred in the first half, which also set an NBA record. 

He's the first Pacer to record a triple-double off the bench since Detlef Schrempf in 1993. 

Indiana Pacers starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon will miss Saturday's game against the New York Knicks with a sore right knee, the team announced shortly before tipoff. 

Brogdon posted 12 points, six assists and six rebounds in 33 minutes during a 118-112 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday and did not appear limited by his knee. The 28-year-old is averaging 21.4 points, 6.4 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 31 games this season. 

The Pacers arrive in New York having lost three of their last five games and looking to avoid a three-game losing streak. That challenge gets a bit tougher without Brodgon, who is one of the team's top ball-handlers and three-point shooters (38.3 percent behind the arc). 

With Indiana now under .500 at 15-16, and four games back of the Milwaukee Bucks in the Central Division, the franchise is in danger of being passed by an upstart Chicago Bulls team in the standings. While the Knicks might still be rebuilding, they've routinely fooled teams that underestimate them. 

Avoiding that trap in the second game of a back-to-back is crucial. 

T.J. McConnell will make his second start of the season in place of Brogdon. The former Philadelphia 76ers reserve is averaging 5.9 points and 6.5 assists in 24.1 minutes per game. Look for Aaron Holiday, Jeremy Lamb and Edmond Sumner to receive extra minutes as well. 

Inconsistency has been the story for the Indiana Pacers so far in 2020-21, and the team is hoping things are different in the second half of the NBA regular season.

Indiana appeared to be a legitimate contender early in the season but fell apart in late January, and now the squad is difficult to trust going forward.

T.J. Warren suffered a foot injury after just four games, while Victor Oladipo was traded after nine games. The Pacers did add Caris LeVert, but the guard was then diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma of his left kidney.

A team full of quality scorers has become extremely thin, making it harder to keep up with the best in the Eastern Conference.

The team still sits 15-14 for fourth place in the Eastern Conference but the talented roster will need to do more in order to move up the standings in the second half of the year.

         

2020-21 Pacers Schedule Details

Second-Half Opener: Friday, March 12 at Los Angeles Lakers

Championship Odds: +6000 (via FanDuel)

Second-Half Schedule: NBA.com

          

Top Matchups

Brooklyn Nets (March 17)

Regardless of the standings by the end of the year, the Brooklyn Nets will be the team to watch in the East come playoff time.

Even with defensive question marks, the Nets have the most exciting trio in the sport between Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. At full strength, the team can outscore anyone and will be difficult to beat in the postseason.

Indiana can use this game as a measuring stick, especially when evaluating a defense that hasn't lived up to expectations in the first half. 

Myles Turner has been as good as ever protecting the rim with 3.5 blocks per game, but the perimeter defense has been one of the worst in the NBA while allowing teams to shoot 37.9 percent from three-point range.

This is not going to work against the Nets, but some improvements in this area and a win over Brooklyn could help Indiana going forward.

       

at Miami Heat (March 19 and 21)

The season hasn't gone quite as expected for the Miami Heat, which made a shocking run to the NBA Finals last year and was expected to contend again in 2021.

Miami beat the Pacers with a first-round sweep in the last postseason.

Domantas Sabonis wasn't available in that series, which could create a serious difference the next time they meet. His ability to match up against Bam Adebayo in the post should help on both ends of the court and give Indiana the chance to avenge the previous loss.

The Pacers didn't face the Heat in the first half of the season, but emotions could still run high when they finally get the opportunity.

Considering these teams will also likely be battling for playoff positioning, these will be important back-to-back games for several reasons.

      

Second-Half Forecast

Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon have done their job offensively this season with a combined 43.1 points per game, but this team needs more players to step up on that end of the court. 

Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb and Doug McDermott have showed flashes but need to provide more consistent production.

The defense could be an even bigger issue if the guards don't display more effort defending the outside shot.

First-year coach Nate Bjorkgren has his team on the right track but small improvements can go a long way as the year progresses.

Though Indiana should be able to secure a playoff spot, the squad could have to settle for a middle seed and another tough opening-round matchup.

Record Prediction: 38-34

                  

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Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner is one of the best at blocking shots in the NBA, but when he swatted down a fan's attempt to troll him, he inadvertently stumbled into a way to raise money for Texans in need of aid due to winter storms. 

Following a poor performance against the Chicago Bulls earlier this week, one disgruntled fan sent Turner a Venmo request for $100. Turner responded by sending back a single penny for the fan's "thoughts." Once news of Venmo transaction gained traction on social media, more and more fans kept sending pennies for Turner's thoughts to the big man—except that some of those pennies eventually be came a few hundred dollars. 

don’t dish it out if you can’t take it 😭 https://t.co/S4zv0eudFU

— Myles Turner (@Original_Turner) February 19, 2021

Turner, a Texas native, tweeted that he would match any Venmo payment sent his way and donate all the money to relief efforts in his home state. 

My Venmo is the same as my Twitter @Original_Turner ! Thanks again 🙏🏾

— Myles Turner (@Original_Turner) February 19, 2021

"I'm finally at a point in my career where I can laugh at stuff like that," Turner told ESPN's Eric Woodyard about the original Venmo request. "My first couple years in the league, I would've took offense to it. I would've been mad, I would've wanted to say something back, but I've been dealing with this for the past two or three years. I can have a great game, I can have a bad game, they love you and they hate you."

It only took 30 minutes before Turner was over $1,000 in donations. 

Players typically talk about turning poor performances into lessons, but taking a rough loss and turning it into charity work is a new level. Leave it to Turner to figure out the best way to make it happen. 

"Some people have been sending me $33 for my number, and I have 801 blocks this season so $8.01, and finding creative ways to send me messages and all this kind of stuff through Venmo," Turner said. "So it's a new way of fan interaction for me."

Indiana Pacers assistant coach Bill Bayno resigned Monday because of personal and health reasons.

"I appreciate the impact Coach Bayno has had on our players and the Pacers organization over the last five years," Pacers head coach Nate Bjorkgren said in the team's announcement. "All of us at the Pacers wish him the very best as he transitions to his next chapter."

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski initially reported that Bayno had been on a leave of absence for two weeks and resigned because of mental health issues. "Bayno has privately described a need to step away from the pressures and workload of the NBA grind amid the pandemic," Wojnarowski wrote.

Bayno's father died in 2019, and his mother, who was diagnosed with cancer, died in April 2020.

Wojnarowski also reported the Pacers assistant lost multiple close friends during the COVID-19 pandemic as well.

The 58-year-old did not fully rule out a return to coaching down the line.

Prior to his time as an NBA assistant, Bayno was the head coach for UNLV and Loyola Marymount in the collegiate ranks. He took a medical leave of absence in 2008 when he was with Loyola Marymount and said at the time, "I was diagnosed with a serious medical condition, in part, related to the stress and anxiety of head coaching."

He eventually resigned from that position.

Bayno has been an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors and Pacers and was with Indiana since the 2016-17 season.

Joel Embiid's ascent to legitimate MVP contender has forwards around the league salivating over the opportunity to play against him. 

Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner happens to be next in line to take on the Philadelphia 76ers star, and he's already hyping the matchup. 

"If I am who I think I am, I'm going to step up to the challenge," Turner told reporters ahead of Sunday's contest. 

Embiid is averaging 28.3 points and 11.1 rebounds while shooting 54.4 percent from the floor through 16 games. His mid-range shot has been lethal, and few teams have held him down. That was already a challenge for Turner before the Kansas alum found another gear.

Turner has attempted to guard Embiid on 10 occasions. The Sixers center has mostly brushed him aside, averaging 28.4 points, 12.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists, according to StatMuse. On the other end of that matchup, Turner has averaged just 8.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Turner has also routinely found himself in foul trouble against Embiid (4.5 per matchup).

With Embiid playing at his best, Turner will have to perform at an elite level to even have a chance. 

Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis is day-to-day with a left knee bruise after an MRI did not reveal any structural damage, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Tuesday.

Sabonis banged knees with Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry during the Pacers' 129-114 win over the Raps in the first half on Monday. He was initially listed as questionable to return with a left knee contusion but did not re-enter the game.

The Pacers opted to go smaller in the second half by starting wing Jeremy Lamb for Sabonis, who is averaging 20.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists this year.

The Pacers' upcoming schedule features seven games between Wednesday and February 7. A two-game away set at the Charlotte Hornets starts the stretch, which also features matchups with top NBA teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers (Sunday), Milwaukee Bucks (Feb. 3) and Utah Jazz (Feb. 7).

Ideally, the Pacers would have Sabonis for the 76ers game in a matchup against superstar big man Joel Embiid, but Indiana could also be cautious with the All-Star, especially considering that the regular season still features 55 more games for the Pacers.

Sans Sabonis, Lamb figures to see more playing time, and the same can also be said for big man Goga Bitadze.

Lamb is posting 16.8 points and 4.8 rebounds after missing Indiana's first 13 games while recovering from a torn left ACL suffered last season. Bitadze has averaged 5.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in just 28 minutes over three games.

Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert underwent successful surgery Monday to treat renal cell carcinoma, a form of cancer, in his left kidney.

The team said no other form of treatment will be needed, and LeVert is expected to make a full recovery. No timetable has been given for his return to basketball.

LeVert's cancer was found during his physical with the Pacers after he was sent to Indiana as part of the four-team trade that landed James Harden in Brooklyn. The Pacers sent Victor Oladipo to Houston to fulfill their part of the deal.

"I didn't have any symptoms. I was playing in games. I hadn't missed any games this season yet. I was feeling 100 percent healthy," LeVert told reporters last week. "So, in a way, this trade definitely showed and revealed what was going on in my body; so I'm definitely looking at it from that side and definitely humbled to know that this trade could've possibly saved me in the long run."

LeVert was averaging 18.5 points, 6.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds for the Nets before the trade. The Pacers have remained optimistic LeVert will return to basketball. 

"This organization's gonna step up, help him get through this, get him back on the court," team president Kevin Pritchard said. "I'm super confident that we're gonna have him on the court."