Starting guard Andrew Nembhard was ruled out for the second half of Thursday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a sore left shoulder, the team announced.
The injury occurred in the first half as Nembhard tried to steal the ball from countryman Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As the Thunder guard spun away, Nembhard’s arm got caught between Gilgeous-Alexander’s body and the ball.
The Aurora, Ont. native was in visible discomfort after the play but remained in the game until halftime. Ben Sheppard slotted in with the starters in place of Nembhard for the start of the third quarter.
Nembhard was primed for a larger role with Indiana as star point guard Tyrese Haliburton remains sidelined as he recovers from an Achilles tear. The 25-year-old logged four points on 0-of-5 shooting from the field with four assists and a rebound in just under 17 minutes before exiting Thursday night’s rematch of last season’s NBA Finals.