The Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith, sidelined by an left ankle sprain, won’t return until at least next month, coach Rick Carlisle said on Sunday, per Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link).
Nesmith opened the season as the team’s starting small forward but hasn’t played since Nov. 1. One of the team’s top defenders, Nesmith is averaging 9.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game this season while shooting 52.5% from the floor and 54.5% from three-point range. He averaged 12.2 PPG and 4.0 APG last season while starting 47 of 72 games.
Andrew Nembhard, who is dealing with left knee soreness, will miss at least two weeks, according to Carlisle. Nembhard has started seven games in the backcourt this season, averaging 7.3 PPG and 4.7 APG. His last appearance came on Wednesday, when he played 31 minutes against Orlando. Nembhard started 47 of 68 games last season, averaging 9.2 PPG and 4.1 APG.
It’s been a rough go for the club in terms of injuries during the early stages of the season. Indiana has lost two backup centers, Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman, to season-ending Achilles tendon tears.
Forward Obi Toppin is sitting out Sunday’s game against the Knicks with a left ankle sprain.
Ben Sheppard, Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, T.J. McConnell and Johnny Furphy could all see their minutes expand while Nesmith and Nembhard mend.
And Tyrese is shooting under 40% to start the year. Get healthy, everyone. Get the rust off. It’s a long enough season to right the ship, er, pace car
We can blane social media for highlighting everything, but gotdamm everyone in the NBA seems to get injured nowadays.
The injuries, real or otherwise, just keep piling up.
Is there a player not injured yet?
This is a blessing in disguise for the Pacers as it will expedite the process of getting Mathurin and Walker into the starting lineup and get Walker priceless minutes, which is a necessity if the Pacers want to become contenders. Not the way you want it to happen but it has to happen.
Bigger question is where do they find a dependable 5 to backup Turner?