Pacers send veteran point guard, forward to G League for injury recovery

Indiana Pacers veteran point guard T.J. McConnell and forward Johnny Furphy were assigned to the team's G League affiliate the Noblesville Boom on Friday afternoon according to a team social media post.Though technically a demotion, it marks signs of progress for the two injured players, neither of whom have played in a game yet this season. It gives them an opportunity to get on-floor work with the Boom while they are in training camp as the Pacers aren't getting much time to practice between games with their season underway.McConnell has been out since the beginning of training camp with a strained right hamstring. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said in his pre-game news conference on Wednesday that McConnell is "doing better," and "passing tests he needs to pass." Though Carlisle said a return wasn't necessarily imminent, the assignment will give him an opportunity for a ramp-up to return to play that he wouldn't have otherwise. The Pacers have a road game in Miami on Friday night before a back-to-back home series Sunday against the Nets and Monday against the Hawks before a three-game road trip that includes their Mexico City game against the Nuggets.Furphy − who has been out since February with an ACL tear − is not on the same timeline, but this still marks another step in his recovery. A source told the IndyStar that Furphy has been cleared for "very limited" live play and that he is still in the early stages of his recovery plan. He is not close to 5-on-5 full court work yet, but there will still be more opportunity with the Boom for what Furphy can do than what there would be if he stayed with the Pacers during this stretch.Star out: Tyrese Haliburton listed as 'week-to-week' with mild hamstring strainThe Pacers (2-3) could use McConnell back as soon as possible. They had just nine standard-contract players available against the 76ers in Wednesday's loss. Along with McConnell and Furphy they are also missing All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring strain), starting center Ivica Zubac (sprained left ankle) and guard Ben Sheppard (surgery to repair torn left meniscus).Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers send veteran point guard, forward to G League for injury recovery