Pacers sign Lance Stephenson to second 10-day deal, intend to keep him for rest of season
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INDIANAPOLIS — The Pacers are signing Lance Stephenson to a second 10-day hardship contract, a source confirmed to IndyStar on Tuesday. Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes was the first to report the news.
Stephenson's first 10-day hardship contract with Indiana ended Monday after the team fell 101-98 in overtime at Boston. The 6-5 guard totaled 14 points, four rebounds and one assist against the Celtics, marking his third straight double-digit scoring performance off the bench.
"He's given us a big lift, and he did a lot of really good things (Monday)," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. "It's a difficult setting here. We got a full house, it's Boston, it's a raucous crowd, it's a team that's a good team that we're playing against. So it's a difficult set of circumstances, but he once again did a lot of good things."
In his first game back in Indianapolis, Stephenson scored an NBA-record 20 points off the bench in the first quarter against Brooklyn on Jan. 5. He followed that up with another noteworthy outing at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, recording 16 points and a career-high 14 assists Saturday against Utah.
Stephenson was drafted 40th overall by the Pacers in 2010 and is in his third stint with the franchise. He began his latest stint Jan. 1 due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the team and has appeared in five games.
Over the past three games, Stephenson is averaging 20.0 points, 6.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds, while shooting 54.5% from the field and 47.1% on 3-pointers.
Because Indy still has players in protocols it can sign Stephenson to another 10-day hardship deal to buy more time for roster flexibility before committing for the rest of the season. That said: How much more Stephenson must deliver after a 20-point quarter and a 14-assist game? https://t.co/tFFOiq9srR
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 11, 2022
NBA reporter Marc Stein, formerly of ESPN and The New York Times, reported Sunday that Indiana intends to keep Stephenson for rest of the season. However, since swingman T.J. Warren, who has not played this season due to a left foot fracture, remains in the league's COVID-19 health and safety protocols, inking Stephenson to another 10-day deal allows the team to "buy more time for roster flexibility before committing for the rest of the season," Stein explained.
Indiana has one regular roster spot open after waiving former Butler star Kelan Martin on Jan. 6.
Follow IndyStar Pacers beat writer James Boyd on Twitter: @RomeovilleKid. Reach him via email: jboyd1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers sign Lance Stephenson to second 10-day hardship contract
