Tyrese Haliburton

Ben Sheppard (toe) is probable to play in Game 1 against the Bucks on Saturday.

Sheppard miss Indiana’s final five games of the regular season, but he should be available for their first game of the postseason. Sheppard should fill out a large reserve role and provide some floor spacing. He averaged 5.8 points in 17.7 minutes per game during their first round series against the Bucks last year.

Quenton Jackson led the Pacers with 21 points (7-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, two assists and four steals in a 126-118 double overtime win over the Cavaliers on Sunday.

Jackson had a short stretch as a starter in November, but he has spent most of the year on the bench or in the G League. However, he got the chance to take on extra minutes in the regular season finale and took advantage of his opportunity. The 26-year-old went undrafted in 2022 and seems to have finally found a home with the Pacers, though his role isn’t a friendly one for fantasy basketball. He won’t be part of the team’s rotation during the playoffs.

Tony Bradley recorded a double-double on Sunday with 14 points (6-of-13 FGs), 14 rebounds, one assist and five blocks against the Cavaliers.

Bradley played out two 10-day contracts with Indiana before signing a deal that kept him with the Pacers for the rest of this season. He has played more than 10 minutes in just three games this season and has averaged 12 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game across them. Bradley is a decent depth piece, but both Myles Turner and Thomas Bryant will be in front of him on the depth chart for minutes at center during the postseason.

Trae Young (Achilles) is available to play against the Heat on Friday.

As expected, Young will be good to go for Atlanta’s play-in matchup. Young had 28 points before being ejected from Tuesday’s game against the Magic. The Hawks will need him to be even better (and for him to be available for the whole game) if they want to advance to play the Cavaliers in the first round.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Ja Morant had an injection in his ankle on Thursday but is “determined to play” against the Mavericks on Friday.

Charania also noted that if this was a regular season game, Morant likely wouldn’t be playing. It is a “severe” ankle sprain, though he has never wavered from his stance that he will play against Dallas. The injection should help ease the pain, but it also establishes just how severe the injury is. Still, in an elimination game, Morant will play as much as he needs to in order to get Memphis to the playoffs.

Ja Morant had an injection in his ankle on Thursday but is “determined to play” against the Mavericks on Friday.