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The Indiana Pacers and head coach Rick Carlisle have announced a surprise injury update on reserve point guard T.J. McConnell. The 33-year-old has missed the team's entire 1-9 season so far with a strained left hamstring. More news: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Trolls NBA for Drug Testing Him Per Indiana and Carlisle, McConnell will return for Tuesday night's clash with the Utah Jazz. Indiana has also received some other encouraging health news. Two-way signing Taelon Peter, who had been questionable due to a strained right groin, has been given the green light to return. Indiana selected Peter, a 6-foot-3 guard out of Liberty University, with the No. 54 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. In his seven healthy bouts, Peter is averaging 1.7 points on 21.4 percent field goal shooting and 100 percent free throw shooting, 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists. Beyond those two positive guard upgrades, Indiana remains pretty banged-up. Two-time All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton, of course, remains out for the year recovering from an Achilles tendon rupture. Backup power forward Obi Toppin is on the mend from a right foot stress fracture, and will be out until at least February. Otherwise, the Pacers are particularly depleted elsewhere in the backcourt. Guards Bennedict Mathurin (right great toe sprain), Johnny Furphy (left ankle sprain), Quenton Jackson (right hamstring strain), and Kam Jones (lower back stress reaction) are all on the shelf. More news: Former Pacers All-Star Takes Unorthodox Route to NBA Comeback This story will be updated... Latest Pacers News
