Nembhard Brothers Could Make Family History in Pacers-Nuggets Game

Andrew Nembhard could share an NBA floor with his younger brother for the first time Saturday, when the Indiana Pacers play the Denver Nuggets at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Ryan Nembhard, a two-way guard for Denver, said after the Nuggets' practice Friday that their father is coming to watch.

"It's gonna be cool," Ryan Nembhard said. "Pops is gonna come down, watch, and it'll just be fun to see him out here. Obviously, a goal of ours to be in this league and play together, [or] play against each other. So it'll be fun."

The brothers are three years apart. They grew up in Aurora, Ont., and both played at Gonzaga. NBA.com noted that Saturday would be their first head-to-head meeting as professionals if both get on the floor.

Indiana drafted Andrew in the second round in 2022. He's averaging a career-best 19 points and 6.9 assists this season and shooting 39.5% from 3.

He had 22 points, the most on the team, in Wednesday's 107-103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the game that ended Indiana's five-game skid. He shot 8-of-15 on the night.

Tyrese Haliburton stayed in Indianapolis rather than traveling with the team as he continues recovering from a strained left hamstring. T.J. McConnell has made progress and was upgraded to questionable as he nears a return from his hamstring strain. Rookie Braden Smith has started at point guard alongside Andrew in their absence.

Ryan is in his second NBA season. As a rookie with the Dallas Mavericks, he appeared in 60 games, beginning on a two-way deal out of Gonzaga and finishing on a standard contract.

Since signing with Denver on Sept. 30, Ryan has played three games for the Nuggets and spent the rest of his time with G League affiliate Grand Rapids Gold. He's averaged 6.4 points and 5.0 assists for his career.

He first visited Arena CDMX with Dallas a year earlier, when the Mavericks fell 122-110 to Detroit on Nov. 1, 2025.

"It's been a nice experience," Nembhard explained. "I was able to come out here last year with the Mavs and kind of experience it for the first time. So it's nice to be back out here. A lot of love from everybody. Great atmosphere during the game. So I'm excited."

His Spanish needs work.

"Terrible," Nembhard said. "I'm Canadian."

He didn't have any sentences ready, either. "I do French," he said. "I don't do Spanish."

Denver will be without Julian Strawther, who played with Andrew at Gonzaga and is out with a left knee sprain. DeMar DeRozan, who sat out Wednesday with lower back spasms, is probable.

Murray, a Canadian like the Nembhards, leads the Nuggets at 25 points per game. Tip-off is 5 p.m. ET, and NBA TV has the national broadcast.