Andrew Nembhard cleared to play as Pacers get three starters back vs. Clippers
andrew nembhard is available for Wednesday night’s game in Los Angeles, giving the Indiana Pacers a key piece back against the Clippers. Coach Rick Carlisle confirmed in a pre-game press conference that Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard will all be available after entering the day listed as questionable. The return of all three comes ahead of the matchup at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, scheduled for Wednesday, Mar. 4 at 10: 30 p. m. ET.
Availability confirmed: three starters return for Pacers-Clippers
Carlisle’s update means Indiana gets three starters back in the same night, something the team has not had since its Feb. 10 overtime win over the Knicks in New York. All three players had been dealing with injuries that kept them out recently: Siakam had not played since suffering a left thumb sprain against the Mavericks on Feb. 22, Nesmith had not played since suffering a right ankle sprain on Feb. 20 against the Wizards, and Nembhard missed Sunday’s game against the Grizzlies with low back and neck soreness.
The Pacers also announced that Obi Toppin (foot) will play Wednesday night against the Clippers.
In scoring terms, the returns are significant for Indiana. Siakam leads the Pacers with 23. 9 points per game, Nembhard averages 17. 4 per game, and Nesmith averages 13. 2 per game.
Immediate reactions from officials on health and readiness
Rick Carlisle, head coach of the Indiana Pacers, addressed the health outlook before the game, confirming the three starters will be available Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
Carlisle also provided an update on newly acquired center Ivica Zubac, who has not played for the Pacers yet due to a left ankle sprain suffered in late December. “Yeah, he’ll play this season, ” Carlisle said. “I don’t know when. He’s doing better, but he’s not there yet. We’re not going to send a guy out there to play that’s not 100 percent, a guy that’s this important to our organization and our future. But he’s working hard and he’s making progress. ”
Game setup and key storyline: a familiar face on the other side
Wednesday’s game is the first of two regular-season matchups between the Pacers (15-46) and the Clippers (29-31). The teams meet at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, with tipoff set for 10: 30 p. m. ET.
Indiana will also be playing against Bennedict Mathurin, who averaged 17. 8 points per game in Indiana before he was traded on Feb. 5 to the Clippers, and is averaging 18. 8 points per game since the trade. The deal sent Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, along with three draft picks, to the Clippers in exchange for Zubac and forward Kobe Brown.
For this matchup, the operational headline is the Pacers’ immediate health boost: andrew nembhard joins Siakam and Nesmith in returning to availability in the same game after each carried a questionable tag.
Quick context
Siakam, Nesmith, and Nembhard entered Wednesday listed as questionable, but both Carlisle and the Pacers confirmed they will play. Zubac, meanwhile, remains out for now as he continues progressing from his ankle injury.
What’s next
The next major update to watch comes after Wednesday night: how the Pacers manage minutes and workload for returning players, including andrew nembhard, as they move forward from a stretch defined by injuries and shifting availability. Carlisle’s comment on Zubac also sets up a separate timeline—his eventual season debut remains undated, with the team emphasizing full health before he takes the floor.
