It’s straight into a back-to-back against the Orlando Magic, and the big question buzzing around is: will Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam suit up tonight? Umm… maybe that’s not exactly the question we should be asking.
First off, the Indiana Pacers are back in the playoffs with home-court advantage—something fans haven’t seen since 2020! And they earned it in style, edging out the East’s top seed, the Cleveland Cavaliers, 114-112 in a nail-biter. Tyrese Haliburton led the charge, showing up big when it mattered most with 23 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds—nearly a triple-double.
Now shifting focus to the Magic vs. Pacers matchup: Indiana is 1-2 against Orlando this season. With a current 6-game win streak, this is their final shot to even the season series and get some revenge. Or at least… that’s what I thought. You’ll see what I mean in just a bit.
So without further ado, let’s dive straight into the real issue—what’s the exact question we should be asking tonight?
Who’s even playing in the Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic game?
First Boston Celtics, now Indiana Pacers too joining in on the trend? Whew… where do we even begin? Let’s start with the obvious. Tyrese Haliburton is out tonight. The Pacers are managing his lower back injury, and honestly, with the playoffs right around the corner, it’s a smart move. No need to risk your star player in a back-to-back game when you’ve already punched your postseason ticket.
Injury Report for tonight’s game against the Magic:
Ben Sheppard – Doubtful (left great toe sprain)
Tyrese Haliburton – Out (lower back injury management)
Andrew Nembhard – Out (left thumb laceration)
Aaron Nesmith – Out (rest)
Pascal Siakam – Out (right elbow injury management)… pic.twitter.com/r3ANxnpQTe
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 11, 2025
Next up, Pascal Siakam also sits out and deals with proper elbow injury management. Another key guy taking the night off, which pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the lineup. The Pacers clearly aren’t messing around with even the smallest of concerns right now.
Andrew Nembhard won’t be suiting up either, thanks to a left thumb laceration. And Myles Turner joins the list with right knee injury management. That’s the backcourt and frontcourt, both missing their engines.
Aaron Nesmith? Out for rest. Yep, just rest. Plain and simple rest. And Ben Sheppard is listed as doubtful with a left great toe sprain. When even your rotation guard has toe troubles, you know it’s one of those nights.
So yeah—Indiana’s whole starting unit is out. But hey, maybe that’s the plan. With a playoff rematch against the Cavs coming up, Coach Rick Carlisle might just be going full “load management” mode, making sure everyone is fresh, rested, and ready to make some noise when it really counts.
Now, you may be wondering who is even playing right? Let’s take a look.
Indiana’s depth chart vs Orlando Magic
Well, you might be thinking that Indiana is just throwing away an easy game, but it’s actually the right call. Why? Because Orlando Magic is doing the same thing. Their entire starting lineup is also out, except for Cory Joseph. So, heading into this matchup, the deep bench of the Pacers will get their shot. It’s an opportunity for them to prove their worth and make a statement, with players stepping up and showing what they’ve got on the floor!
POSITION
STARTER
2nd UNIT
3rd UNIT
PG
Tyrese Haliburton (O)
T.J. McConnell
Andrew Nembhard (O)
SG
Andrew Nembhard (O)
Ben Sheppard (O)
Bennedict Mathurin
SF
Aaron Nesmith (O)
Bennedict Mathurin
Jarace Walker
PF
Pascal Siakam (O)
Jarace Walker
Obi Toppin
C
Myles Turner (O)
Obi Toppin
Thomas Bryant
So, while tonight’s Pacers vs. Magic game might look more like a G League showdown than a typical NBA showdown, please don’t sleep on it just yet. As this isn’t a throwaway—it’s a chess move.
With the playoffs looming and both teams playing the long game, this rest day could be the secret sauce for a deep postseason run. And who knows? Maybe a bench baller seizes the spotlight and writes their own story. Either way, popcorn’s ready—we’re watching.
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