After a brutal stretch that saw them drop five straight games and nearly upset the Hawks with a skeleton crew of only six available players, the Pacers finally have a glimmer of hope. Starting center Ivica Zubac, who has been sidelined for five games with a left ankle sprain originally suffered in their last win in Brooklyn on October 25, is officially questionable for Wednesday’s clash against the 6-1 Grizzlies in Memphis.
The Injury Report Looks Like a Hospital Chart, But Some Faces Are Emerging
Zubac’s upgrade is huge, especially considering how banged up this team has been. He is not the only one on the mend, either. Forward Obi Toppin, who has missed the last three games with a lumbar sprain, is also questionable for Wednesday. Same goes for forward Kelly Oubre Jr., who was scratched right before tip-off Monday with a left knee bruise, now listed as a left calf contusion.
It is a miracle anyone is playing, honestly. For Monday’s game, a second night of a back to back, Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard all sat out for rest and injury management. Larry Nance Jr. also missed that one with an illness. Good news there, though: none of those guys are even on the injury report for Wednesday. So we should see them back on the floor.
But the truly grim news remains. Point guards Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring strain) and T.J. McConnell (right hamstring strain) are still out. As are wings Ben Sheppard (torn left meniscus) and Johnny Furphy (torn ACL). Yeah, you read that right. Torn ACL. It’s rough out there.
Can This Shorthanded Roster Finally Break This Brutal Skid?
Monday’s game was a wild one, with the Pacers having just six standard players available. Half of them were on two-way contracts: forwards Jalen Slawson and Kobe Brown, and point guard Braden Smith. All three of those guys scored in double figures and played at least 37 minutes, with Smith, a former Purdue star, even dropping a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists in his first NBA start. Talk about stepping up! Now, all three of them are listed as questionable for Wednesday, too, as the team could have up to 10 standard contract players available.
The Pacers have dropped five straight, and six of their last seven, mostly because the injuries have just been relentless. Facing the formidable 6-1 Grizzlies, the Pacers desperately need a win to snap this brutal skid. With the possibility of having up to ten standard contract players available, plus the two-way crew who showed heart on Monday, this Wednesday’s game isn’t just another matchup. It’s a chance to turn the tide, to prove that even with half the roster limping, this team can still fight. All eyes are on Memphis, hoping that “questionable” quickly turns into “active” for Zubac and the rest of the squad, because the grind doesn’t wait.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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