Smith had 14 points (4-9 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 5-6 FT), eight rebounds and four assists across 23 minutes during Thursday's 139-123 victory over the Bucks.
Smith operated as the primary backup big man and played at least 20 minutes for the fourth time over his past five appearances. During that stretch, he's averaging 10.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 blocks in 21.6 minutes. Smith appears to have a firm grasp on the top frontcourt reserve gig, but his minutes will likely start to fall as Myles Turner works his way back to 100 percent following a two-game absence from a back injury.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Scores game-high 20
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Smith contributed 20 points (7-11 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 5-6 FT), nine rebounds, two blocks and one assist in 25 minutes during Saturday's 121-115 victory over the Pistons.
Head coach Rick Carlisle's usage of his backup center had been somewhat unpredictable of late, but with starter Myles Turner (back) sitting out Saturday, the door was open for both Isaiah Jackson and Smith to split minutes at the position. Though Jackson garnered the start, both he and Smith produced well during their time on the floor. With Carlisle already ruling Turner out Monday's rematch with the Pistons, Smith and Jackson both shape up as strong streaming options once again.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Steps up in loss
Rotowire
Smith finished with 14 points (5-8 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes during Monday's 147-143 loss to Philadelphia.
With starting center Myles Turner fouling out in 17 minutes while struggling to defend Joel Embiid, the Pacers were forced to turn to a three-man center rotation featuring both Smith and Isaiah Jackson. Smith was the preferred option of the reserve centers, playing 21 minutes to Jackson's nine. Though both Smith and Jackson have displayed fantasy-friendly skill sets, the unpredictability of whom head coach Rick Carlisle will turn to as the top backup to Turner on a given night makes it tough to rely on either big man as a streaming option.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Logs 20 minutes Saturday
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Smith closed Saturday's 121-108 win over Orlando with seven points (3-8 FG, 1-2 3Pt), seven rebounds and five blocks across 20 minutes.
Smith played as the primary backup behind Myles Turner, a role that appears to be fluent from night to night. To put this in perspective, Smith had played in only four of the previous 10 games, logging no more than eight minutes in any of those games. The five blocks marked a season high in that category, but, much like his playing time, should be viewed as an outlier as opposed to what we can expect moving forward.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Left off injury report
Rotowire
Smith (illness) isn't on the injury report for Friday's game versus Phoenix.
Smith appears good to go Friday after being ruled out early for Wednesday's matchup with the Heat due to a non-COVID illness. The 22-year-old forward has played in only two of the Pacers' last seven games.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Will not return Wednesday
Rotowire
Smith has been ruled out for the remainder of Wednesday's game against the Heat due to a non-COVID illness.
Smith had yet to see the court Wednesday despite being ruled out after halftime, so his absence will likely have no impact on the rotation. Smith's next chance to play will come Friday against Phoenix.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Scores nine points in 16 minutes
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Smith finished Friday's 134-111 loss to the Nuggets with nine points (4-10 FG, 1-4 3Pt), four rebounds, one assist and one steal over 16 minutes.
Smith played as the primary backup to Myles Turner, a role that is far from secure moving forward. Isaiah Jackson had assumed the role in the three games prior to Friday but was relegated in this one. It appears the coaching staff will decide the role based on the individual matchup, making both players hard to trust outside of deeper formats.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Not starting Friday
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Smith will come off the bench for Friday's matchup with the Hawks, Tony East of SI.com reports.
Smith started in the team's previous contest with Aaron Nesmith (illness) absent but will come off the bench Friday even with Myles Turner (back) also sidelined. Coach Rick Carlisle will instead turn to Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson in the frontcourt. However, given the team's various injuries, Smith should still see a sizable workload.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Starting Wednesday
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Smith will start Wednesday's tilt against the Knicks, Tony East of SI.com reports.
Smith draws the starting nod Wednesday in place of Aaron Nesmith, who is sidelined with a non-COVID illness. With Oshae Brissett (hamstring) also absent, there should be ample opportunities for Smith, who has averaged 10.1 points and 6.2 rebounds in just 20.2 minutes per game this season.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Available Sunday
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Smith (hand) is available for Sunday's matchup against the Hornets, Jeremiah Johnson of Bally Sports Indiana reports.
Smith will return to action Sunday following a one-game absence due to a hand injury. Over his previous 14 appearances (three starts), the backup big man has averaged 8.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.9 minutes.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Questionable Sunday
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Smith (hand) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Hornets.
Smith missed Friday's game against the Trail Blazers but could return Sunday. He's been coming off the bench since mid-December after beginning the year as a starter.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Doesn't practice Saturday
Rotowire
Smith (hand) did not practice Saturday, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Smith sat out Friday's game against the Trail Blazers due to right hand soreness. Coach Rick Carlisle noted that Smith will probably be listed as questionable and could be a game-time call for Sunday's game against the Hornets.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Won't play against Portland
Rotowire
Smith is out for Friday's game versus the Trail Blazers due to right hand soreness.
Smith is a late scratch Friday and will miss his second game of the season. Isaiah Jackson, Goga Bitadze and Oshae Brissett are candidates to receive extended playing time in his absence. Smith's next chance to suit up is Sunday's matchup with Charlotte.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Double-double off bench
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Smith racked up 11 points (5-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 11 rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes off the bench during Monday's 122-114 victory over the Raptors.
The third-year forward led the Pacers in rebounding en route to his sixth double-double of the season and his second in the last six games. Smith's role is too inconsistent to rely on him in season-long fantasy formats, but he has some appeal as a DFS dart throw when in the right matchup.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Falls out of rotation Monday
Rotowire
Smith had zero points (0-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt) over six minutes during Monday's 113-93 loss to the Pelicans.
Coming into the contest, Smith had posted 7.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 assists in 15.5 minutes over his past eight games (three starts), including a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double in Indiana's previous contest. However, he fell out of the rotation Monday, as Isaiah Jackson (15), Oshae Brissett (12), Goga Bitadze (11), James Johnson (seven) and Terry Taylor (seven) all played more minutes than Smith. The reasoning behind Smith's lack of playing time is unclear, but it's certainly a situation worth monitoring moving forward.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Set to play Monday
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Smith (ankle) will play Monday against the Pelicans, Scott Agness of FieldhouseFiles.com reports.
Smith was originally listed as questionable, but he will be available and could very well come off the bench, as he did in five of Indiana's last six games. The former Maryland product is averaging 8.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in December.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Questionable for Monday
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Smith has been listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Pelicans due to a left ankle sprain.
Smith has come off the bench in five of Indiana's last six games but has struggled to produce consistently, as he has scored in double digits just once in that span. The former Maryland product is averaging 8.8 points with 5.3 rebounds per game in December, and if he can't play Monday, Oshae Brissett and Isaiah Jackson would be in line to get more minutes.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Double-double off bench
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Smith recorded 14 points (6-9 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-1 FT), 11 rebounds and three blocks in 23 minutes during Friday's 111-108 victory over the Heat.
Smith posted his first double-double since Nov. 18. His production has fallen off a bit since moving to the bench, as he is averaging 7.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 assists in 17.0 minutes across five games not starting this season.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Not starting
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Smith isn't starting Sunday's matchup against the Knicks.
Aaron Nesmith will move into the starting lineup, which will shift Smith to a reserve role for just the third time this season. Across his previous two matchup off the bench, Smith has totaled six points, eight rebounds, five assists, four blocks and three steals in 30 minutes.
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Pacers' Jalen Smith: Starting Friday
Rotowire
Smith will start at power forward in Friday's game against the Cavaliers.
Smith is replacing Aaron Nesmith in the starting lineup, as the Pacers will opt to go bigger. He is averaging 11.2 points and 6.7 rebounds across 22.6 minutes in 26 games as a starter this season.
