The Indiana Pacers entered Saturday’s matchup in Memphis with six guards already ruled out and lost two more before the final buzzer, leaving the backcourt in disarray.
Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles), T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Kam Jones (back), Quenton Jackson (hamstring), Johnny Furphy (foot) and Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) were unavailable against the Grizzlies. During the blowout defeat, rookie Taelon Peter exited with a sore groin and Bennedict Mathurin left with right foot soreness.
Only Ben Sheppard and two-way guard RayJ Dennis finished the night healthy, though Sheppard chipped a tooth, according to Circle City Spin. Head coach Rick Carlisle said Mathurin’s issue appears to be in the forefoot and that imaging is planned when the team reaches Minneapolis on Sunday, The Indianapolis Star reported. Mathurin, eligible for restricted free agency next summer, was walking gingerly postgame without a boot or crutches.
Nembhard’s shoulder injury occurred in the season opener against Oklahoma City after contact with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, per Fieldhouse Files. Given the growing list of absences, Indiana could soon apply for hardship roster exceptions.
Lakers
Luka Doncic is listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest against the Kings with a left finger sprain, The Athletic reported. The injury happened early in Friday’s win over Minnesota, a game in which he still finished and set a franchise mark with 92 total points across his first two outings of the season.
Jaxson Hayes (left knee soreness) is also questionable for Los Angeles. On Sacramento’s side, Zach LaVine is questionable with an illness, NBC Sacramento noted.
Magic
The Orlando Magic are limiting Jalen Suggs to three-to-four-minute stretches while he returns from last season’s knee cartilage surgery, head coach Jamahl Mosley told The Orlando Sentinel. Suggs sat out Saturday’s home loss to Chicago on the second night of a back-to-back.
Orlando’s G League affiliate, the Osceola Magic, traded the rights to two-time NBA Slam Dunk champion Mac McClung to the Windy City Bulls. McClung spent the previous two seasons with Osceola and appeared in two games for Orlando on a two-way contract.
Source: Hoops Wire
