Pacers lose Obi Toppin for at least a month, Bennedict Mathurin listed week-to-week
pacers-lose-toppin-one-month-mathurin-week-to-week
INDIANAPOLIS — Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said Tuesday that forward Obi Toppin will miss a minimum of four weeks with a right hamstring strain, while guard Bennedict Mathurin is considered week to week because of a sprained right great toe.
Toppin’s injury occurred during Sunday’s loss in Minnesota. Mathurin was hurt the night before in Memphis when he tripped over Jock Landale’s foot on a drive to the basket. Both players will undergo further evaluation after the club returns from its road trip, which ends Wednesday in Dallas.
“I can’t give you a definitive answer with either guy, but they’re gonna miss some time,” Carlisle told reporters.
The Pacers were already preparing to play the entire season without star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is recovering from an Achilles tear. Additional injuries continue to thin the rotation:
- Andrew Nembhard (left shoulder strain) completed some on-court work Tuesday but is not cleared to play.
- Taelon Peter (right groin strain) is improving but remains sidelined.
- Johnny Furphy (left foot soreness) will undergo more tests once the team is back in Indianapolis.
- T.J. McConnell (left hamstring strain) and Kam Jones (lower back stress reaction) did light work at the end of Tuesday’s practice; both are expected to be out until at least Nov. 9.
With injuries accumulating, Indiana waived center James Wiseman on Tuesday and signed guard Mac McClung. The roster move positions the Pacers to qualify for at least one hardship exception, which the NBA grants when four or more players have missed three straight games and are projected to remain out for two additional weeks. Players signed under the hardship exception receive 10-day contracts.
The Pacers face the Mavericks in Dallas on Wednesday before returning home for further medical evaluations.
Source: Hoops Rumors
