After losing to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, the Indiana Pacers are now 0.5 games behind them for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference standings. However, they will have an opportunity to get back in the win column on Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Monday marks the first matchup of the season for last year’s conference finals runner-ups. It is also the Pacers’ final road game before their five-game homestand.
While the Pacers lost their most recent game and four of their last six, the Timberwolves are red-hot as their eight-game winning streak is the longest active one currently in the league. Thanks to their streak, Minnesota now owns the No. 7 seed in the West and is just 3.5 games behind the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets.
Here is the full injury report for the Pacers and Timberwolves ahead of Monday’s game.
3/17 Pacers injury report vs. Timberwolves
- RayJ Dennis (G League) – AVAILABLE
- Enrique Freeman (G League) – AVAILABLE
- Johnny Furphy (illness) – OUT
- Tyrese Haliburton (back) – OUT
- Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) – OUT
- Quenton Jackson (G League) – AVAILABLE
- Aaron Nesmith (ankle, injury management) – OUT
- Pascal Siakam (personal) – OUT
- Myles Turner (hip) – OUT
The Pacers have a lengthy injury report as four of their five starters are listed.
Tyrese Haliburton is reportedly dealing with a sore back and is listed as out against Minnesota. Since he is unable to play, the Pacers will likely rely more heavily on T.J. McConnell and Andrew Nembhard to run the point.
In addition to Haliburton, Myles Turner is also listed as out on the Pacers’ injury report due to a hip injury. Turner, who has been essential to the team’s success this season, had not missed a game since the All-Star break. Since Turner will not suit up, it is fair to assume that the Pacers will start Thomas Bryant.
The Pacers had also already ruled Pascal Siakam out when they released the initial injury report due to personal reasons. Siakam, who had played every game so far in his first full season in Indiana, was named an All-Star and is averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.
Aaron Nesmith is also on the Pacers’ injury report and will be inactive on Monday night. However, the Pacers have announced that it is for injury management reasons related to his ankle. Hopefully for the team, they are just playing it safe with Nesmith as the end of the regular season approaches.
Rookie forward Johnny Furphy, who missed the Pacers’ loss to Milwaukee with an illness, was initially upgraded as questionable. However, he has also since been ruled out.
RayJ Dennis, Enrique Freeman, and Quenton Jackson, who are all on two-way contracts, are each available to play against the Timberwolves. With how shorthanded the Pacers will be, it will be worth monitoring their status throughout the game.
3/17 Timberwolves injury report vs. Pacers
- Jesse Edwards (G League) – OUT
- Leonard Miller (G League) – OUT
- Tristen Newton (G League) – OUT
Former Pacer Tristen Newton has appeared in just three games for the Timberwolves as he is on a two-way contract. He was ruled out against Utah and is officially out against his former team. The Florida native started the season in Indiana before they waived him in January.
Jesse Edwards and Leonard Miller were also ruled out against the Jazz due to their G League assignments and will also not suit up against Indiana.
