Aaron Nesmith left Thursday night’s 35-point loss to the Suns after his left foot twisted awkwardly while setting up on defense in the third quarter. The Indiana forward crawled off the court and did not return, with the team listing the issue as knee soreness.
Head coach Rick Carlisle said postgame that early indications suggest the injury is not a severe ligament problem, though Nesmith is expected to miss time. The 25-year-old exited the arena limping and wearing an ice bag but was not on crutches.
Indiana, already without seven players entering the game and still reeling from Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles tear in last season’s Game 7, dropped to 1-11. Nesmith has carried an expanded offensive role and is regarded by Carlisle as the club’s most versatile defender. “He’s a top player on this team,” the coach noted. “It hurt us out there tonight and it’s going to affect us.”
Walker’s Shooting Woes
Third-year power forward Jarace Walker missed all 10 of his attempts in Phoenix, lowering his season field-goal percentage to 29.7%. Walker, who had gone 1-for-8 two nights earlier in Utah, was moved to the bench on Tuesday after seven consecutive starts.
Terry Seeks Bigger Role in Chicago
Bulls guard Dalen Terry, a potential restricted free agent next summer after not receiving a rookie-scale extension, has appeared in seven of Chicago’s 11 contests and is averaging 5.9 minutes. “With this being a contract year and things not starting like you want them to, guys can go into a dark place,” Terry said. “But I just look at it like, man, it’s just basketball, and we’re winning right now. So my feelings aren’t really the priority.”
Pistons List Key Players as Questionable
The 10-2 Pistons, owners of the Eastern Conference’s best record, could be shorthanded for Friday’s NBA Cup matchup with the 76ers. Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart are all questionable, while Ausar Thompson and Tobias Harris have been ruled out.
Source: Hoops Rumors
