UPDATE: Tyrese Haliburton has been ruled out for tonight’s game, while Pascal Siakam is available, per the Indiana Pacers.
For the Indiana Pacers, every game is effectively a playoff game from here on out. They’ve clinched at least a spot in the Play-In Tournament, but the goal is assuredly the fourth seed. They’re tied with Milwaukee Bucks — both teams are 38-29 — and the Detroit Pistons are just a game back, having played and lost twice more than either of their Central Division rivals.
With such high stakes, Indiana’s injury report for tomorrow’s 7 p.m. ET clash against the Dallas Mavericks isn’t great, with both point guard Tyrese Haliburton and power forward Pascal Siakam questionable, according to Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star.
Haliburton has missed a few games in recent weeks, including Monday’s overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the Minnesota win marked Siakam’s first absence of his Pacers stint. The 25-year-old point guard has been dealing with a back injury, while Siakam was absent for personal reasons.
On Monday, with both Haliburton and Siakam out — as well as Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith, who are no longer on the injury report — Indiana started Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, Jarace Walker, and Thomas Bryant. Expect Nembhard to start alongside Nesmith, Mathurin, Walker, and Turner if both Haliburton and Siakam can’t suit up.
Thankfully for the Pacers, it probably won’t matter if either of their stars suit up, that they’ll be significant favorites over a depleted Mavericks squad either way. Indiana’s top priority should be ensuring that its entire supporting cast is healthy when its first-round series begins, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the team is cautious with Haliburton especially.
