Kelly Oubre Jr. Cleared to Return Against the Nuggets
Underdog NBA reported Kelly Oubre (calf) is available to play Saturday.
The are getting their primary agent of chaos back on the floor. has officially been cleared to play Saturday against the after dealing with a lingering calf injury.
Underdog NBA confirmed the 30-year-old wing is good to go, which means Rick Carlisle has to shuffle his deck again. Oubre’s availability instantly changes the math for a second unit that desperately needs someone willing to shoot the basketball the second it touches their hands.
Let’s be honest about what Oubre brings to the table at this stage of his career. He is currently averaging 9.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, numbers that scream "guy who will either drop 22 points in a quarter or go 2-for-11 with zero assists."
The context here is just as important as the calf healing up. Oubre actually lost his starting gig to Jarace Walker earlier this season, meaning his role is strictly to come off the bench and provide instant, high-variance offense.
For the fantasy managers and prop bettors out there, Oubre’s return is a classic wait-and-see situation. Trying to predict his usage rate in a crowded rotation against a heavy-hitting squad is like trying to guess the exact number of jellybeans in a jar while blindfolded.
The Pacers need all the wing depth they can get to hang with the Nuggets' size. We will see exactly how much trust Carlisle still has in Oubre the second the rotation tightens up in the fourth quarter.