OKLAHOMA CITY — Pacers two-way contract guard Quenton Jackson has been ruled out of Friday’s game against the Thunder, but coach Rick Carlisle in his pre-game press conference that he might not miss that much time.
Jackson injured the ankle on Wednesday in the first half against the Celtics in Boston, missing the second half of that game.
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“He’s going to be day-to-day,” Carlisle said. “He’s not going to play tonight. … He had a diagnostic test yesterday that was good news. I can’t get into details about it. I can’t get into details about it, but it was a lot more good news than it was negative. That’s good. This will be, what three or four days until Atlanta. Atlanta might be in the picture on Monday. He’s a young guy and pretty resilient bouncing back from stuff. We’ll hope for the best.”
Jackson has been with the Pacers on a two-way contract basis since he was signed in March of 2024 but he’s had a much larger role than most two-way players. Last year, he had to start seven games and appear in 28, averaging 5.8 points, 1.9 assists and 1.6 rebounds per game. This year, he’s started nine games and appeared in 22, averaging 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
Guard Bennedict Mathurin is still out for the Pacers with a right thumb sprain, but Carlisle said earlier this week that there is still a chance he returns on this road trip. The Pacers play the Hawks in Atlanta on Monday before returning home.
The first-place Thunder will be missing seven players including five rotation players in guards Alex Caruso and Ajay Mitchell, wings Jalen Williams and Aaron Wiggins and center Isaiah Hartenstein. Recent draft picks Thomas Sorber and Nikola Topic are out long term for surgical recoveries. Forward/center Jaylin Williams was listed as questionable but is available.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers’ Quenton Jackson ruled out against Thunder but could return soon