Domantas Sabonis will miss his first game as a Pacer on Tuesday. The team ruled him out this morning for tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Bankers Life Fieldhouse due to a right calf contusion.
Injuries are never great, but the timing is less than ideal with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins making their annual visit to Indy. Davis is averaging 27.4 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game; Cousins is averaging 28.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.
The Pelicans (5-5) have won their last two games and are on their third stop of a four-game road trip, which concludes in Toronto on Thursday.
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With Sabonis out, expect Myles Turner, Al Jefferson, and potentially Ike Anigbogu to receive additional minutes.
Sabonis has been a bright spot this season, averaging 13.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest. He becomes the fifth Pacer to miss game action due to injury – joining Glenn Robinson III (10), Edmond Sumner (10), Myles Turner (7), and T.J. Leaf (1).
Leaf, by the way, has been upgraded to questionable. He sprained his left ankle in Friday’s loss in Philadelphia and was on the bench in street clothes Sunday in New York.
The Pacers, who did not hold morning shootaround, have dropped two in a row.
The Pelicans, meanwhile, have their own injury concerns. Former Pacer Solomon Hill (left hamstring) has yet to play this season. Rajon Rondo (left core muscle) Alexis Ajinca (right knight), Omer Asik (illness), and Frank Jackson (right foot fracture) are all out as well.
[Photo: Frank McGrath/PS&E]