Reggie Perry was playing video games, then the Pacers called because they needed height

INDIANAPOLIS — Reggie Perry was relaxing at home when a message popped up on his cellphone late Wednesday night.

"I was in Toronto at like 12:30 (a.m.) playing the video game when my agent text me like, 'Yo, Indiana wanna bring you in,'" he said. "So I was literally sitting in my living room. I just packed my bag that night and left (Thursday) morning."

Perry, who had been starring with Toronto's G League team, the Raptors 905, arrived in Indianapolis on Thursday night. The Pacers signed him to a 10-day contract under the NBA's COVID-19-related hardship exception Friday to bolster their depleted frontcourt, and, at 6-foot-8, Perry became their tallest available player before hosting the Bulls hours later at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

More: Caris LeVert scores season-high 42, but Ayo Dosunmu's late dunk lifts Bulls past Pacers

"That's literally what (coach Rick Carlisle) said to me. As soon as I met him (he said), 'You're the tallest player on the roster, so you'll be playing (center) for us. You're screening and rolling,'" Perry said. "That's literally exactly what he said to me. It was a great conversation. He was glad to have me. All the coaches and players, they all welcomed me with open arms."

Perry said he received a crash course on Indiana's offensive and defensive schemes before matching up against the Bulls and 7-foot center Nikola Vucevic.

Two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis (COVID-19 protocols), league-leading shot blocker Myles Turner (stress reaction in left foot), third-year center Goga Bitadze (bruised right foot) and encouraging rookie Isaiah Jackson (right ankle sprain) were all out, guaranteeing that Perry would play.

"It just felt good to be back on an NBA floor," said Perry, who was drafted 57th overall by the Clippers in 2020 and traded to Brooklyn. " ... I kind of got adjusted to the plays off the fly and pretty quickly and stuff like that, defensive concepts, so it was good."

Undrafted 6-5 rookie Terry Taylor made his first NBA start at center and recorded his second consecutive double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds in 38 minutes against the Bulls. Perry gave Taylor a breather and totaled two points and one rebound in 10 minutes in an eventual 122-115 loss to Chicago.

The Bulls scored 70 points in the paint, led by Vucevic, but Carlisle said he was pleased with Perry's performance, especially considering that Perry wasn't even in the United States when the Pacers came calling.

"I was impressed with him (Friday) afternoon when we were putting in our basic stuff," Carlisle said. "He's got a great basketball grasp, great feel. (He) picked up about 8-10 things. He was with (assistant) Mike Weinar at about 2:30 (p.m.), and then we had our walk through at 4, went through those 10 things again and he had them down."

Perry shot the ball only once, draining a midrange jump shot early in the second quarter to cut Chicago's lead to four points. The former Mississippi State standout was confident on the play, though he admitted it wasn't by design.

"I was looking to actually pass it, but they was denying Lance (Stephenson)," Perry said. "I realized how wide open I was so I just shot it."

Caris LeVert, who scored a season-high 42 points against the Bulls, went through training camp in Brooklyn last season with Perry. They played five games together before LeVert was traded to Indiana.

"I know Reggie really well," LeVert said of reconnecting with Perry. "I know his game, so we kind of had some continuity, and it's easy to talk to him because like I said I know him a little bit already."

Carlisle said Saturday that Sabonis is "close" and he could exit the league's health and safety protocols "in the next day or so," but Perry will most likely be relied on again Sunday at Cleveland. The Cavaliers feature one of the tallest and most talented frontcourts in the NBA with 6-10 Jared Allen, a standout rim protector and lob threat, and promising 6-11 rookie Evan Mobley.

Perry played with the Trail Blazers earlier this season on a 10-day contract and is thrilled to have another chance to prove himself in the NBA with the Pacers.

"It's a great opportunity," Perry said. "I'm blessed to have this opportunity, and I'm blessed for the Pacers to call me and (to) play. I'm just happy to be here."

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 needed height, so they tracked down Reggie Perry in Toronto