Jay Huff's Minutes Shrink Early in Pacers' 2026-27 Season
Jay Huff opened the 2026-27 season with his playing time ranging from 10.4 to 16.8 minutes across Indiana's first four games, well below last season's 21.0-minute average. He's not on the injury report, and last season he was a picture of availability, playing all 82 games while posting 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks a night. The early sample points to a smaller role so far, even as the Pacers keep him healthy and at full strength on the roster.
By the Pacers Nightly Desk · updated 4 d ago01The story of the nightA Steady Big Off the BenchJay Huff logged 82 games last season for the Pacers, averaging 21.0 minutes a night.
Jay Huff logged 82 games last season for the Pacers, averaging 21.0 minutes a night. He put up 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, adding 0.5 steals and 1.9 blocks. His shooting line stood at 47.6 percent from the field, 31.9 percent from three and 82.8 percent at the free-throw line, which pushed his true shooting to 59.8 percent. His usage rate sat at 17.8 percent, and his plus-minus for the season was -3.1. The 7-1, 240-pound center out of Virginia stayed on the floor all season, never missing a game, and gave Indiana rim protection and floor-spacing shooting in a complementary role off the bench.
02Early Minutes Have ShrunkThrough the first four games of the 2026-27 season, Huff's playing time has dropped well below last season's…
Through the first four games of the 2026-27 season, Huff's playing time has dropped well below last season's 21.0-minute average. He played 16.8 minutes in a win over Minnesota on October 7, scoring 16 points with 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Since then his minutes have fallen to 10.4 against Atlanta, 13.2 against Oklahoma City and 13.8 against Milwaukee, with his scoring dipping to 5, 11 and 4 points in those three losses. His plus-minus in that span ranged from +2.0 against Atlanta to -14.0 against Milwaukee. The sample is small, but the minutes trend is the clearest signal on him so far this season.
03Health ReportHuff is not on the injury report, and there's no injury history on file for him.
Huff is not on the injury report, and there's no injury history on file for him. That tracks with last season, when he played all 82 games for Indiana without missing time — a mark of durability for a 7-1, 240-pound center now in his fifth NBA season. At 29 years old, he remains fully available heading into this stretch of the 2026-27 schedule. Nothing in his record points to a physical concern behind his reduced minutes in the season's first four games; any change in his role so far looks like a coaching decision, not a health issue. Indiana has had a healthy, available big down low to turn to whenever matchups call for size.
04Role and FitHuff's game is built around efficiency rather than volume.
Huff's game is built around efficiency rather than volume. A 59.8 true shooting percentage last season, built on 47.6 percent shooting from the field, 31.9 percent from three and 82.8 percent at the line, points to a center who scores within his role. His 17.8 usage rate backs that up: he isn't asked to create offense, more to finish and protect the rim, where he averaged 1.9 blocks a game. The season-long -3.1 plus-minus is worth watching next to this season's early swings, which have ranged from +9.0 in the October 7 win over Minnesota to -14.0 in the October 16 loss to Milwaukee.
05Last Season's Stretch RunIn the final weeks of 2025-26, Huff saw regular minutes in the high teens and low 20s.
In the final weeks of 2025-26, Huff saw regular minutes in the high teens and low 20s. He grabbed 10 rebounds against Philadelphia on April 10 despite an 8-point night and a -13.0 plus-minus, then bounced back with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in a win over Brooklyn on April 9, posting a +17.0. He closed the stretch with 12 points and 6 rebounds against Charlotte on April 3, 6 points against Cleveland on April 5, 12 points and a -20.0 plus-minus against Minnesota on April 7, and 13 points with 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 23.9 minutes against Detroit on April 12.
Huff9.5 ppg
Potter9.7 ppg
LAL
WAS
DEN
MEM