76ers guard Tony Wroten followed through on a layup and popped C.J. Miles in the left eye early during Saturday’s game in Philadelphia.
C.J. Miles may wear Kirk Hinrich-like glasses if the hits continue. He has taken a punishing this season, and it’s caused him to miss more time than he can ever remember.
Before we get into his latest injury, let’s get you caught up.
First, it was a left calf strain. (Training camp)
Second, a migraine, which then led to other bodily issues. (Nov. 7, missed four games).
Third, a sore right calf (Nov. 14, missed three games).
Fourth, an eye injury after he was struck by former Pacer Gerald Green, who received a Flagrant-1 foul for the hard hit. Miles returned in the fourth quarter for a few minutes and missed his only shot. (Dec. 2)
Then, on Saturday night, in the final minute of their loss in Philadelphia, 76ers guard Tony Wroten followed through on his shot at the rim and connected with Miles’ left eyeball.
C.J. Miles was his usual bubbly self on Monday, despite dealing with a bruised eye.
Miles, who is averaging 12.1 points per game this season, his first with the Pacers, did not return to the game. He was diagnosed on-site with a left eye abrasion.
“I couldn’t open my eye,” he explained Monday after the team concluded practice back home at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
“It was just super inflamed and red, and I really couldn’t open it. I couldn’t see anything. I think the biggest thing (the trainer) was worried about was me getting close to getting hit again and then it would end up being something really bad.”
When Miles first went to the locker room, the initial plan was for him to have it looked out, treated, and then take the floor for halftime warmups to determine if he it was OK to return.
But it never got to that point.
He received steroid drops in his left eye, which helped with the irritation. He said it took him an awful long while to finally be able to open the eye just a little bit.
“I’ve never been hit like that, right on my eyeball,” he said, so frustrated. “I have a bruise on my eyeball. It was just tough.”
Still back in the locker room, they then reached out to the team’s longtime ophthalmologist, Dr. John Abrams, to hear his opinion. Since he struggled to open his left eye and they couldn’t conduct the extensive necessary tests in the arena, Miles joined his teammates on the bench for the second half but he did not return to the floor.
Early Sunday afternoon, before his hometown Dallas Cowboys played — and lost in Green Bay — Miles visited Abrams’ office for complete tests.
“[He] made sure there was no real damage to my eye,” Miles said. “Now, it’s just sore but I’m fine. I practiced today and I’ll be all right.
“Just a little bruise. I’ve never been bruised on my eyeball, but it happens.”
His left eye, where there’s a bruise, still is irritating. He said it feels sticky. Miles will be re-evaluated by Dr. Abrams prior to Tuesday’s game at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
If one more incident occurs, Miles said he’ll sport the Kirk Hinrich look.
Though Miles doesn’t plan to wear any eyewear, like goggles or a patch, for example, but he has not ruled it out for good.
“I told them [if it happens] one more time and I’m going to Kirk Hinrich’s look,” he said, with his usual contagious smile. “They laughed; I was dead serious.”
It’s been a totally unpredictable season for Miles in terms of injuries. In mid-December, after those first four incidents, he began to settle in.
“I’m finally fine everywhere else,” he recalled of what he told the trainers prior to this latest episode. “Everything has been working and then someone punches me right in the eye, which is the most random thing. I don’t even remember the last time I’ve got hit in a game and I’ve been hit twice dramatically hard in two games this year.
“The most random stuff,” he said of this season, just trying to laugh it off.
George Hill Remains Sidelined
The Pacers’ starting point guard will miss at least one more game due to a left groin strain he suffered in the team’s victory on New Year’s Eve over the Miami Heat, 106-95. If you remember, it was the game where Hill threw down a ferocious dunk in transition.
Head coach Frank Vogel ruled Hill out for Tuesday’s matchup against the Timberwolves (5-31), a team that has dropped 15 straight games and is 2-15 on the road. Even then, they have four fewer losses than the New York Knicks (5-35).
Then, Vogel added, “We’ll see after that.” Hill averaged 14.2 points and 2.4 assists per game in his five appearances this season (126 minutes total).
Rodney Stuckey is listed as questionable due to food poisoning.
As the media was allowed in for the final five minutes of practices (if that), Hill was seated on the sideline next to Paul George. Stuckey was not seen.