CHICAGO, Ill. — Victor Oladipo won’t play Friday night as the Pacers face the Chicago Bulls for the third time this season.
Oladipo did not play in the team’s home loss Wednesday to Dallas, 98-94, due to a sore right knee. He has pain and swelling, and is doubtful to be back in uniform on Sunday against Minnesota.
“We’re going to reevaluate him next week,” McMillan said pregame. “He needs to rest the knee and we have to give him some time.”
How much time?
“He’s out tonight and we’ll reevaluate him in a couple of days.”
Oladipo has underwent tests and the team’s conclusion was that he just needs time for the swelling go down. He was in the locker room postgame but did not meet with the media. He walked normally and without a limp.
Lance Stephenson will start in place of Oladipo; it will be his third start of the season.
“We can fill that void,” Myles Turner said. “We’re a deep team. We just got to do it, man. We’re obviously missing him, but at the same time it’s the next-man-up mentality.
“We miss his scoring. Another scoring option out there, somebody we can just go to.”
Oladipo traveled with the Pacers (19-16) to Chicago and was on the court watching individual warmups a few hours before they faced the 12-22 Bulls, who have won nine of their last 11 games.
Assuming Oladipo does not play on Sunday, their next game is not until Wednesday – so he could have seven days between games.
He is having an All-Star caliber season, averaging a team-high 24.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.
.@VicOladipo going with an outfit from his Orlando 🌴 days. (Probably) pic.twitter.com/zZTJIz1U0y
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) December 30, 2017
[Photo: Frank McGrath/PS&E]