TITLE: Turner Booed in Indiana Comeback; Pacers Face New Injury Setbacks
SLUG: turner-booed-in-indiana-comeback-pacers-face-new-injury-setbacks
CONTENT:
INDIANAPOLIS — Myles Turner’s first appearance at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in a Milwaukee Bucks uniform was met with sustained boos on Monday night, a reception the veteran center called both “disheartening” and “frustrating.” The 29-year-old spent 10 seasons with the Indiana Pacers after being drafted No. 11 overall in 2015, making 616 regular-season starts and another 63 in the playoffs before leaving in free agency last summer.
Turner told reporters he had expected a mixed reaction but struggled with the volume of negativity, noting he had “given everything” to the franchise, accepted pay cuts and endured repeated trade rumors. Feeling the Pacers under-valued him, he signed a richer deal with Milwaukee in July.
The boos began during a pregame tribute video and continued every time Turner touched the ball. The Bucks ultimately silenced the crowd when Giannis Antetokounmpo hit a buzzer-beating jumper, then flashed a thumbs-down gesture toward the Indiana fans while leaving the court.
“He’s their all-time blocks leader and gave them a decade,” Antetokounmpo said afterward. “We’ll lift him up and show him the respect he deserves.”
More bad news for Indiana’s backcourt
The Pacers’ injury list grew longer in the loss. Second-year guard Johnny Furphy, who had already missed four games this season with left foot soreness, left in the first half after spraining his left ankle and departed the arena on crutches. Head coach Rick Carlisle had no immediate timetable for his return.
Two-way guard Quenton Jackson exited in the third quarter with right hamstring tightness and did not come back. Jackson was coming off a career performance Saturday against Golden State — 25 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and three steals.
“At this point it’s almost laughable how many injuries we’ve had,” forward Pascal Siakam said. “But we’ll keep working and find a way through it.”
Nesmith and Walker carry heavier load
With multiple scorers sidelined, Aaron Nesmith and second-year forward Jarace Walker have shouldered bigger roles. Nesmith is averaging more than five additional field-goal attempts compared with any prior season, while Walker’s shots have climbed from 4.8 per game as a rookie to 12.6.
“We’ve got a lot of moving parts and guys playing out of position,” Carlisle said. “Aaron and Jarace are figuring it out on the fly and improving every night.”
The Pacers continue a three-game homestand Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons.
Source: Hoops Rumors
