INDIANAPOLIS — Pacers center Isaiah Jackson will miss Tuesday’s home game against the Bucks with a concussion according to the NBA’s official injury report. Jackson took two elbows to the face from Boston’s Neemias Queta in the first quarter of Monday’s loss to the Celtics and left the game for a head evaluation and didn’t return.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle opened his postgame comments after the loss by saying he thought the play should have been looked at in real time and that the league should take a look at it as a potential hostile act, saying he did not think the elbows were accidental. Carlisle said he wasn’t certain if Jackson would have to enter the concussion protocol, but now he apparently will.
Jackson has been operating as the Pacers’ backup center behind starter Jay Huff. James Wiseman, who is coming to the end of a 10-day hardship exception contract that he took over from forward Gabe McGlothan, took Jackson’s minutes in Monday’s game. Tony Bradley is also available at center, but he has a fractured right thumb and has sat out the last two games even though he’s been listed as available.
Pacers veteran guard T.J. McConnell was also listed as questionable with left knee soreness after missing Monday’s game, but coach Carlisle said in pre-game that he will be available. Wings Aaron Nesmith (left knee MCL sprain) and Ben Sheppard (left calf strain) are still out. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is out for the season with an Achilles tendon tear and forward Obi Toppin is out until February with a fractured right foot.
Bucks two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss his seventh straight game with a right calf strain.