Pacers starting center Myles Turner has been diagnosed with a concussion and sore neck, and has entered the NBA’s concussion protocol. He has been ruled out for the Pacers’ pair of weekend games — Friday against Portland and Saturday in Miami.
The team announced the news four hours before they tipped off against the Trail Blazers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
It’s unclear when exactly Turner sustained the sore neck, though we know it occurred on a cross-screen Wednesday in the Pacers’ (1-0) season-opening win over Brooklyn, during which Turner tallied 21 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks.
Second-year center Domantas Sabonis will start in Turner’s place.
The Blazers’ starting center is Jusuf Nurkic, who shined with Portland over the final 20 games last season after being traded by Denver. He averaged 15.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.
Turner played (and started) in 81 of 82 regular-season games last season. The team will be without forward Glenn Robinson III for at least the first three months of the season.