Domantas Sabonis suffered a left ankle sprain Tuesday night in Philadelphia and X-rays were negative, according to Pacers head coach Nate McMillan. Sabonis went back to the locker room and did not return to the floor.
“I didn’t see what happened,” McMillan said after the Pacers (40-28) edged out the Philadelphia 76ers in a 101-98 win. They’re now 10-1 this season in games decided by three points or less.
“I heard that Embiid fell on his ankle and the X-rays were negative. So right now we’re calling it a sprain.”
With two minutes left in the third quarter, Sabonis lost his balance while boxing out Ersan Ilyasova. He fell on the baseline and then Joel Embiid, after exaggerating a push in the back from Trevor Booker, landed on Sabonis’ left foot.
An MRI back in Indianapolis could reveal potential ligament or tendon damage.
Joel Embiid landed hard on Sabonis’ left ankle. pic.twitter.com/zTBRvQTzua
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) March 14, 2018
With Sabonis in the locker room and Myles Turner in foul trouble in the second half, newcomer Trevor Booker provided the Pacers will valuable minutes. He had five points and six rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench.
The Pacers, winners in six of their last seven games and 10 of 13, host Eastern Conference leader Toronto Thursday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Raptors are 50-17 and have nine straight games.