It's been a tough start to the 2025-26 season for the injury-plagued, defending Eastern Conference champions. But for the Indiana Pacers, the one positive is that they may be unearthing some building blocks for the future.
On Sunday, young Australian star Johnny Furphy showed some of his potential, dropping a career-high despite the team's tough loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The 21-year-old scored 18 points on an efficient 70 per cent from the field, and was a +12 despite the Pacers being defeated by 19 points for their 22nd loss of the season.
The result means Indiana have fallen to a 6-22 record, currently sitting them at 14th place in the Eastern Conference.
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However, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle was all praise for the guard after the game.
"He had one of his best games as a Pacer," he told the media.
It was just Furphy's 10th game of the season, after he was struck down by injury early in the campaign.