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Dustin Dopirak

@dustindopirak.bsky.social

2.7K followers 130 following 580 posts

Pacers beat writer at the Indianapolis Star. Former shops: Bloomington Herald Times (2x), The Athletic, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Knoxville News Sentinel, Daily News Record (Harrisonburg, Va.), Daily Collegian - PSU.

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Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 6h

Jay Huff is on his fifth franchise in five professional seasons and he's still played more G League games than NBA games. He spent five years in college and his career has generally taken its sweet time reaching a destination. How he's maintained patience: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Pacers are Jay Huff's 5th team in 5 years but patience has been a virtue with versatile center

Jay Huff is playing for his fifth NBA franchise in five years after a five-year college career, but his patience seems to be paying off

www.indystar.com

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 19h

The Pacers get Ben Sheppard back in practice this week. They need something to stabilize the injury-ravaged second unit but they also could use a more aggressive version of him on offense: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Ben Sheppard returns from calf injury looking to add aggression off the dribble

Ben Sheppard returns to practice for the Pacers this week after missing the first three preseason games with a strained calf.

www.indystar.com

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 2d

Halftime: Spurs up 69-66. Pacers 24 of 45 from the floor, 13 of 29 for 3, 5 of 7 at the line, 1.20 per possession. Spurs 26 of 43, 8 of 14, 9 of 13, 1.20 per possession. Mathurin 27 points, (9 of 9, 4 of 4, 5 of 5). Siakam 12, Nesmith 9. Wemby 19, Castle 13, Champagnie 12.

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 2d

Spurs up 34-30 at the end of one. Pacers 10 of 23 from the floor, 7 of 17 from 3, 1.06 points per possession. Spurs 14 of 23, 4 of 7, 2 of 3, 1.09 per possession. Mathurin 14 points, Wembanyama 10.

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 2d

Johnny Furphy and Quenton Jackson are out with a left ankle sprain and hamstring soreness respectively. Story on those and what it does to the Pacers' backcourt depth: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Indiana Pacers injury update: Johnny Furphy, Quenton Jackson will miss preseason game vs. Spurs

The Pacers still have a lot of backcourt players who are sidelined because of injuries. Here's who will play tonight.

www.indystar.com

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 4d

Revised version of tonight's Pacers game story with more on Taelon Peter's play, Johnny Furphy's dunk and Cameron Payne and Quenton Jackson at point guard: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Taelon Peter leads short-handed Pacers to preseason win over Thunder

Taelon Peter scored 18 points and Bennedict Mathurin scored 16, but the Pacers lost Quenton Jackson and Johnny Furphy to injuries.

www.indystar.com

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 4d

Injury story on Johnny Furphy and Quenton Jackson leaving the game with injuries: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Johnny Furphy, Quenton Jackson leave Pacers' preseason game with injuries

Johnny Furphy suffered a left ankle sprain and Quenton Jackson left Saturday's preseason game with a sore right hamstring.

www.indystar.com

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 4d

Halftime at Gainbridge: Pacers up 62-58. Pacers 21 of 46 from the floor, 6 of 26 from 3, 14 of 18 at the line, 1.09 per possession. Thunder 18 of 41, 7 of 17, 15 of 17. 1.08 per possession. Mathurin 16. Toppin and Q. Jackson 14 each.

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 6d

Video from today. Interviews with Rick Carlisle and Quenton Jackson: www.indystar.com/videos/sport...

Pacers discuss point guard situation ahead of upcoming preseason game

The Pacers head into their preseason game against the Thunder on Saturday with just two true point guards on standard contracts healthy and available.

www.indystar.com

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 6d

With Tyrese Haliburton creating shots for himself and others, the rest of the Pacers got tons of open catch-and-shoot 3s and didn't have to do much shooting off the dribble. With him out, the others may have to look to shoot more off-the-bounce 3s: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

How Pacers can make up for loss of Tyrese Haliburton's and Myles Turner's 3-point shooting

Tyrese Haliburton accounted for more than half the 3s the Pacers hit off the dribble last season. Others might have to pickup that slack.

www.indystar.com

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 6d

Definitely used to the NBA journeyman lifestyle. Knows this is a good opportunity to fall into for sure. Seems like a good dude. (And we the media are happy about it because we lose a good quote in TJ for a month so we get one back)

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 6d

Cam Payne was about ready to pack up and head back from New York to his permanent home in Phoenix when he got a call from his agent Wednesday saying the Pacers needed a point guard. Within six hours he was on a plane to Indiana: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Cameron Payne battling for Pacers' backup point guard job after whirlwind 24 hours

Cameron Payne got a call Wednesday saying the Pacers needed a point guard and took a plane to Indiana almost immediately.

www.indystar.com

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 7d

Video from today: Interviews with Cameron Payne, Rick Carlisle, Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith: www.indystar.com/videos/sport...

Pacers discuss addition of Cameron Payne, T.J. McConnell's injury

The Pacers announced that they have signed Cameron Payne and waived Delon Wright and that T.J. McConnell is out for a month.

www.indystar.com

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · 7d

Been lazy over here so I apologize, but a story I enjoyed doing on Isaiah Jackson being able to finally gain weight for the first time thanks to his Achilles tear keeping him off the floor. He gained too much but melted off the fat and he's stronger than ever: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

From Caniac Combos to gluten free, how Isaiah Jackson returned from Achilles injury with more muscle

Isaiah Jackson always struggled to put on weight, but his Achilles tendon tear finally put him in a place where he could bulk up.

www.indystar.com

Reposted by Dustin Dopirak

Matt Glenesk @mattglenesk.bsky.social · Jul 8

Aaron Nesmith and Bennedict Mathurin are extension-eligible this summer.

One is a no-brainer. The other is a head-scratcher.

@dustindopirak.bsky.social on the #Pacers not being in a rush on either decision:

Aaron Nesmith extension is a no-brainer. Bennedict Mathurin's isn't as clear cut. Pacers won't rush either

Bennedict Mathurin is eligible for a contract extension on his rookie scale deal and Aaron Nesmith will be extension eligible in October.

www.indystar.com

Reposted by Dustin Dopirak

scottehorner.bsky.social @scottehorner.bsky.social · Jul 1

This is a stunner. #Pacers #NBAFreeAgency

@dustindopirak.bsky.social story

www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Reposted by Dustin Dopirak

scottehorner.bsky.social @scottehorner.bsky.social · Jun 30

Big man watch. #Pacers #NBAFreeAgency

@dustindopirak.bsky.social story

www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Help wanted: 10 options for Pacers for center depth as NBA free agency opens

The Pacers' center position is in flux heading into the start of free agency, but they have several options, including some in-house.

www.indystar.com

Reposted by Dustin Dopirak

scottehorner.bsky.social @scottehorner.bsky.social · Jun 24

The Myles Turner watch is on. #Pacers

@dustindopirak.bsky.social story

www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Re-signing Myles Turner is still 'No. 1 priority' for Pacers offseason, Rick Carlisle says

Though Tyrese Haliburton's injury changes the Pacers' trajectory, Rick Carlisle says re-signing Myles Turner is still the No. 1 priority.

www.indystar.com

Reposted by Dustin Dopirak

scottehorner.bsky.social @scottehorner.bsky.social · Jun 23

Crushing.

@dustindopirak.bsky.social story

www.indystar.com/story/sports...

'All of our hearts dropped.' Rick Carlisle says Pacers' thoughts are with Tyrese Haliburton

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle did not have any more information on Tyrese Haliburton's injury but said the teams hearts go out to him.

www.indystar.com

Reposted by Dustin Dopirak

scottehorner.bsky.social @scottehorner.bsky.social · Jun 23

'He definitely wanted to be there and we felt that. He was a soldier. He went until he couldn't.' #Pacers #NBAFinals

@dustindopirak.bsky.social story

www.indystar.com/story/sports...

'It sucked the soul out of us': Tyrese Haliburton's injury brings tragic end to magical season

The Pacers' unexpected run to the Finals had a tragic ending with Tyrese Haliburton's apparently serious leg injury.

www.indystar.com

Reposted by Dustin Dopirak

Danielle Lerner @danielle-lerner.bsky.social · Jun 23

Absolutely devastating injury for Haliburton, who was in a lose-lose situation that I’ve seen some people on here address. Play hurt and risk further injury or getting blamed for a poor performance. Don’t play and get called selfish, get blamed if your team loses without you.

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · Jun 23

Tyrese Haliburton goes down with injury in the first quarter: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Tyrese Haliburton goes down with injury early in Game 7 of NBA Finals, carried off floor

Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton went down with a clear right leg injury with 4:55 to go in the first quarter of Game 7.

www.indystar.com

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · Jun 23

Second quarter, Pacers won 26-22. Pacers 8 of 17, 4 of 8 from 3, 6 of 10 at the line, 1.02 per possession. Thunder 7 of 22, 2 of 13, 6 of 9, 0.82 per possession.

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · Jun 23

Pacers up 48-47 at the break. Pacers 16 of 38 from the floor, 8 of 16 from 3, 8 of 13 at the line, 0.99 per possession. Thunder 17 of 42, 4 of 18, 9 of 13, 0.96 per possession. Siakam 10 points. Haliburton (prior to injury) 9, Nembhard 9, Mathurin 8. SGA 16.

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · Jun 23

Tyrese Haliburton goes down with injury in the first quarter: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Tyrese Haliburton goes down with injury early in Game 7 of NBA Finals, carried off floor

Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton went down with a clear right leg injury with 4:55 to go in the first quarter of Game 7.

www.indystar.com

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · Jun 20

There were times on Thursday night when it was clear Tyrese Haliburton was dealing with a calf strain, but there were enough when it wasn't -- including the sublime steal and no-look for the Pascal Siakam dunk -- to force a Game 7: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Tyrese Haliburton grits through calf strain to will Pacers to NBA Finals Game 7

Tyrese Haliburton was limited by a calf strain but still posted 14 points and five assists to help the Pacers blow out the Thunder in Game 6.

www.indystar.com