Pacers get bad news about Haliburton but good news on Nembhard, McConnell on injury report

Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton will likely be out at least two weeks with a mild left hamstring strain, but Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said his other injured point guards are making progress and guard Andrew Nembhard will be available for Wednesday's game against the 76ers. Nembhard missed Monday's game against the Bucks in Milwaukee with neck stiffness and soreness and he was listed as questionable going into Wednesday's game, but Carlisle said he will be available.Veteran point guard T.J. McConnell has been out since the beginning of training camp with a right hamstring injury of his own. The 34-year-old is still out for Wednesday's game, but Carlisle said he's making progress toward a return."T.J. is doing better," Carlisle said. "He continues to pass tests that he needs to pass. From what I'm hearing, we're getting closer. I don't think there's anything imminent in the next three or four days or five days, but he's getting closer." Carlisle said guard Ben Sheppard's surgery to repair a torn left meniscus on Wednesday in New York was successful and that his knee is in better shape than expected, but he will still be out for a matter of months. The Pacers are still missing center Ivica Zubac with a left ankle sprain, but his injury doesn't seem to be long term. However with Haliburton, McConnell, Sheppard, Zubac and forward Johnny Furphy (ACL tear) all out, the Pacers have just nine standard-contract players available and will have to use all three of their two-way contract players on Wednesday night. Nembhard, who started the first three games at shooting guard, will be back at point guard where he started last season when Haliburton was out with an ACL tear. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers get bad news about Haliburton but good news on Nembhard, McConnell on injury report