MINNEAPOLIS — The Pacers will be missing four starters in Monday night’s game against the Timberwolves as All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, forward Aaron Nesmith and center Myles Turner have all been ruled out with injuries, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said in his pre-game press conference Monday.
All three were listed as questionable heading into Monday’s game. Haliburton has a sore lower back, Turner a left hip contusion. Nesmith is out for injury management for the left ankle sprain that cost him 35 games from Nov. 1 to Jan. 16. All-Star forward Pascal Siakam was ruled out yesterday for personal reasons. Rookie wing Johnny Furphy was also ruled out with an illness.
That will require a near-complete lineup overhaul. Carlisle said Andrew Nembhard will move from shooting guard to point guard as he’s always done in cases when Haliburton has been out. Thomas Bryant will certainly start at center for Turner. For the other three spots, Carlisle will be choosing among guards Ben Sheppard and Bennedict Mathurin and forwards Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker. Carlisle also said that all three players on two-way contracts — point guard RayJ Dennis, guard Quenton Jackson and forward Enrique Freeman, are available.
They’ll be going up against a Minnesota team that has won eight straight games and is 40-29.
“We’ve got a deep roster and we have all our two-ways here,” Carlisle said. “We have talented depth guys who are dying for an opportunity like this. We had a good prep session this morning. I’m excited for them. They’re playing one of the hottest teams in the league right now. It’s very challenging, but Nembhard will start at point in Ty’s stead and we’ll go from there.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, Myles Turner, Pascal Siakam ruled out
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