INDIANAPOLIS — Pacers point guards Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell, and forwards Aaron Nesmith and Jarace Walker have all been ruled out with injuries for Friday’s game agains the Hornets in Charlotte according to the NBA’s official injury report.
Nesmith will miss his third straight game with a cervical strain and Walker will miss his second straight with low back bruise. Nembhard will miss his second straight game with an injury that has been revised from “lower back injury management” to “cervical and lumbar soreness.” McConnell is out with right hamstring soreness, which has been an issue for him since suffering a hamstring strain in the preseason.
Advertisement
Forwards Pascal Siakam (right knee injury management) and Obi Toppin (right foot injury management) are listed as probable. Two-way contract forward Jalen Slawson is listed as doubtful as he has to be inactive for at least one more game this season per the provisions of the two-way deal. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton (right Achilles tendon tear), forward Johnny Furphy (right ACL tear) and center Ivica Zubac (fractured rib) are out for the season with injuries.
Nembhard (16.9 points per game), Nesmith (13.8 ppg), Walker (11.5 ppg) and McConnell (9.4 ppg) are four of the Pacers’ top six scorers this season in terms of total points. Nembhard and McConnell rank first and second on the team in assists with 7.7 per game and 5.1 per game respectively. However even without them on Wednesday the Pacers beat the Bulls 145-126, posting season highs in points and assists. Siakam scored 25 points in under 22 minutes, but five other players scored in double figures with two-way contract guard Ethan Thompson scoring 24.
The Hornets play on Thursday night, so they do not have to submit an injury report until Friday.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith among four key Pacers out vs. Hornets