Pacers center Ivica Zubac is questionable to return to Sunday's game at Brooklyn with a left ankle sprain. He is listed day-to-day, and Indiana is thin on bodies with three other players out.
What happened
Zubac, a 29-year-old center, is questionable to return to Sunday's game in Brooklyn because of a left ankle sprain, Pat Boylan of FanDuel Sports Network Indiana reports. The injury report posted the update at 6:53 PM ET and lists him as day-to-day with an ankle and left leg issue. The game against the Nets began at 6:00 PM ET, so the update came during play. He had no previous status on the report. The report's expected return date is Oct. 25, the same day. No further detail on the severity of the sprain has been announced.
What it means for the Pacers
Indiana is 1-1 and sits 9th in the standings after a loss in its last game. Zubac has played both games, and the Pacers are 1-1 with him. They have not played without him yet, so there is no record to compare. In those two games he is averaging 12.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 28.6 minutes. Who takes his minutes at center if he stays out is not announced. Ben Sheppard (knee), Johnny Furphy (knee) and T.J. McConnell (hamstring) are all listed as out, which limits Indiana's options. Pascal Siakam is averaging 26.5 points and Tyrese Haliburton 20.5 in the early going.
What to watch
The first thing to watch is whether Zubac returns to the game in Brooklyn. If he does not, the next injury report should show whether his status changes. The report lists Oct. 25 as his expected return, but no timeline beyond this game has been announced. Sheppard, Furphy and McConnell are all out, so the Pacers' frontcourt and guard depth will both be tested in the games ahead. Indiana will look to even its record after the Nets game.
Is Ivica Zubac playing at Nets on Sunday?
He started the game but is questionable to return after a left ankle sprain, according to Pat Boylan of FanDuel Sports Network Indiana. The injury report lists him as day-to-day. Whether he comes back has not been announced.
When will Ivica Zubac be back?
The injury report lists an expected return date of Oct. 25, the day of the Nets game. No timeline beyond that game has been announced.