Dustin Dopirak

Ben Sheppard is out for Friday's game with a left calf strain: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

I meant to tell you I got a kick out of this. From time to time he has those moments. I think he's all-around better, though.

Nuggets win 135-120. Jamal Murray goes wild for 52. 10 of 11 from 3: Gamer: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

I totally missed that and just saw Valanciunas bullying people.

Nuggets up 30-18 on points in the paint. Denver up 21-17 on the boards, but Nuggets don't have an offensive rebound. (They haven't missed a lot.) Pacers up 7-0 on second-chance. Nuggets up 18-11 on fast breaks. Pacers 7 turnovers to Nuggets 6. Nuggets 11 points off TOs. Pacers 8.

Second quarter stats: Nuggets won 39-20. Pacers 8 of 19 from the floor, 2 of 7 from 3, 2 of 2 at the line, 0.84 per possession. Nuggets 16 of 23, 5 of 7, 2 of 3, 1.48 per possession. Just incredible stuff from Denver there.

Nuggets up 72-48 at the break. Pacers 19 of 41 from the floor, 5 of 13 from 3, 5 of 8 at the line, 0.99 per possession. Nuggets 29 of 43, 9 of 15, 5 of 6, 1.39 per possession. Mathurin and Nembhard 9 each. Murray 23. Jokic 12-6-6.

Shit, he looks fine to me ... well he looks wildly out of shape but yet also the best player to (it seems accidentally) pick up a basketball.

Nuggets up 33-28 at the end of one. Pacers 11 of 23 from the floor, 3 of 7 from 3, 3 of 6 at the line, 1.09 per possession. Nuggets 13 of 20, 4 of 8, 3 of 3, 1.30 per possession. Siakam and Mathurin 6 each, Murray 10.

Story on Johnny Furphy's return: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Johnny Furphy was upgraded to questionable for Wednesday's game against the Nuggets. He's been out since Nov. 3. Usually, when guys have had that upgrade this year, they've gotten back on the floor: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

It's not easy to jump on to an NBA team a month into the season and still be as successful as you're used to being. Garrison Mathews found that out, but his 15-point outing on Monday was a sign he's finding a rhythm: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Story on Rick Carlisle's explanation for why T.J. McConnell didn't return to Monday's game after the first quarter: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Donovan Mitchell scores 43 points and the Cavaliers beat the Pacers 135-119: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Cavs up 32-22 on points in the paint. 27-15 on the glass, 11-2 on offensive rebounds, 16-6 on second-chance points, 9-8 on fast-break points, Pacers have eight turnovers to the Cavs 3, Cavs 10 points off TOs to Pacers' six.

Second quarter was 29-29. Pacers 8 of 16 from the floor, 3 of 8 from 3, 10 of 13 at the line, 1.13 per possession. Cavs 10 of 25, 3 of 11, 6 of 9, 1.21 per possession.

Cavs up 66-54 at the break. Pacers 18 of 36 from the floor, 6 of 16 from 3, 12 of 17 at the line, 1.09 per possession. Cavs 26 of 53, 7 of 21, 7 of 12, 1.31 per possession. Siakam 12 points, Mitchell 17.

Cavs up 37-25 after one. Pacers 10 of 20 from the floor, 3 of 8 from 3, 2 of 4 at the line, 1.05 points per possession. Cavs 16 of 28, 4 of 10, 1 of 3, 1.41 per possession.

Pacers starters: Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard, Bennedict Mathurin, Pascal Siakam, Jay Huff. Cavs: Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, De'Andre Hunter, Evan Mobley.

Quick story on the Pacers signing Ethan Thompson to a two-way contract and waiving RayJ Dennis: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Would love that for all of us.

On Pascal Siakam, how the buzzer beater Brandon Ingram hit over him Wednesday motivated his own game-winner against the Bulls Saturday night and how the Pacers saw the moment as "so well-deserved.": www.indystar.com/story/sports...

I can't think of a coach in any sport in my lifetime more likely to do exactly this than Lane Kiffin. I don't think it will happen, but if I had to pick one guy who would do it...

Gamer from tonight. Pascal Siakam's game-winner and lock-down defense down the stretch gives the Pacers consecutive wins for the first time in 2025-26: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Pacers have had a few buzzer beaters hit on them this year. This time they get one. Siakam's jumper gets the Pacers win No. 4, 103-101.

Bulls won the third 26-25. Pacers 10 of 19 from the floor, 1 of 6 from 3, 4 of 5 at the line, 1.03 per possession. Bulls 11 of 22, 3 of 5, 1 of 5, 1.12 per possession.

18-18 on points in the paint. Pacers up 26-18 on the glass. Pacers up 9-4 on second-chance points. Bulls up 14-6 on fast-break points. Pacers nine turnovers to Bulls' seven. Bulls 10 points off turnovers, Pacers 7.

Pacers won 2Q 35-27. Pacers 13 of 25, 6 of 10 from 3, 3 of 4 at the line, 1.26 per possession. Bulls 8 of 20, 5 of 9, 6 of 7, 1.00 per possession.

Pacers up 61-54 at halftime. Pacers 23 of 47 from the floor, 12 of 25 from 3, 3 of 4 at the line, 1.16 points per possession. Bulls 19 of 44, 10 of 20, 6 of 7, 1.06 per possession. Jay Huff 14 points, Siakam 12, Mathurin 11, Giddey 12, Vucevic 10.

Bulls up 27-26 at the end of one. Pacers 10 of 22 from the floor, 6 of 15 from 3, no FTs. 1.04 per possession. Bulls 11 of 25, 5 of 12, no FTs 1.12 per possession. Jay Huff 14 of the Pacers' 26 points. He's 5 of 6 from the floor, 4 of 5 from 3.