INDIANAPOLIS — The Pacers took a number of hits to their depth chart in the preseason, but their injury list heading into their season opener at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday against the Thunder at Gainbridge Fieldhouse isn’t nearly as long as that of the defending NBA champions.
The Pacers are still unquestionably short-handed with All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton out for the season with an Achilles tendon tear and veteran point guard T.J. McConnell out until at least Nov. 9, according to coach Rick Carlisle. However, there were just two other names on the Pacers’ official injured list released Wednesday. Rookie guard Kam Jones is out with a lower back stress reaction also until about Nov. 9 and two-way contract guard Quenton Jackson is out with a right hamstring strain. Forwards Jarace Walker (back soreness) and Johnny Furphy (left ankle sprain) were not listed on the injury report, however, after both were held out of the Pacers’ final preseason game on Friday.
“They’re doing better,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said of Walker and Furphy after practice Wednesday. “I expect them to be available.”
Carlisle said Wednesday that he’s hopeful Jackson will be back in “days not weeks” though he acknowledged that wasn’t any sort of official timetable and “that’s just me throwing stuff against the wall.” However Jackson was a partial participant in practice.
The Thunder meanwhile, will be missing a number of key pieces and are unsure about others. Unlike the Pacers, they will have the face of their franchise available in reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. However, All-NBA forward Jalen Williams is out after offseason surgery on his right wrist. Forward Kenrich Williams (left knee), forward Nikola Topic and center Thomas Sorber (ACL) are also out for surgical recovery with Sorber out for the season. Ace defender Alex Caruso is out after suffering a concussion in Tuesday’s opener against the Rockets and sharpshooting guard Isaiah Joe is out with a left knee contusion.
Guards Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace, also two of the NBA’s best defenders, are listed as questionable after both played important roles in Tuesday’s double overtime win over the Rockets. Dort has a left ankle sprain and Wallace a left knee sprain.
The Thunder still managed to pull out a win on Tuesday without Jalen Williams, Kenrich Williams, Topic, Sorber or Joe. The Pacers have to figure out how to play without Haliburton and McConnell. Andrew Nembhard will be the starting point guard, but it isn’t clear who the backup will be and Carlisle said “stay tuned” when asked this week. He said guard Ben Sheppard and rookie Taelon Peter — both natural shooting guards — have had work at the point and could be used there. So too could two-way contract point guard RayJ Dennis.
“They’re doing fine,” Carlisle said of Peter and Sheppard. “We have options. They’re just not the most conventional at this moment, but that’s alright. These guys are working hard at it. They’re smart guys and they’ll do their best to play to their strengths.”
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