Rick Carlisle switches up Pacers starters, adding Aaron Nesmith, Jalen Smith

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle made his most dramatic change to his starting lineup this season for Tuesday's night's game against the Rockets in Houston, removing veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield and forward Obi Toppin and inserting forward Aaron Nesmith and big man Jalen Smith.

Guard Andrew Nembhard remained in the starting lineup for the second straight game for Bruce Brown, who is out with a bone bruise in his right knee. Brown and Toppin have each started 27 of the Pacers' first 28 games this season and Hield had started 16. Nesmith and Nembhard were stalwarts in last year's starting lineup, but they have started a combined four games this season. Smith started 31 games last season, but is making his first start this year.

Nesmith and Smith have been two of the Pacers' most effective players and adding them to the starting lineup along with Nembhard, point guard Tyrese Haliburton and center Myles Turner means the Pacers will be using a much bigger lineup against the Rockets. Nesmith started at power forward last season and Smith was operating as the backup center, but they will be playing small forward and power forward respectively. Nesmith is averaging 11.5 points per game, mostly off the bench, this season and shooting 53.2% from the floor and 46.4% from 3-point range. Smith is averaging 10.1 points per game in under 15 minutes per game and shooting 72.6% from the floor and an absurd 70.4% from 3-point range on limited attempts.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers-Rockets: Aaron Nesmith, Jalen Smith added to starting five