TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 05: Domantas Sabonis #11 and Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers warmup for an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on February 05, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
The struggle for full strength continues for Indiana.
A little over a week from now, Indiana will host the 76ers to tee off their NBA restart. Currently seated fifth in the East, the Pacers sit comfortably in playoff position but still have seeding work to do as the play-in period begins.
Originally, Victor Oladipo, who Indiana has been without for much of the year, announced he would not be a part of play in Orlando to rehab an injury instead. At the time, Oladipo said that was liable to change, and he has been playing with his team since they arrived in the bubble.
Set for the first scrimmage this week, it’s looking more and more like Oladipo will be on the floor. However, another key piece of the Pacers roster, Domantas Sabonis, is not.
Speaking to the media yesterday, head coach Nate McMillan updated the status of his two star players. Sabonis will sit out due to an injury to his plantar fasciitis. Coach McMillan described it as a soft tissue injury, keeping him out of practice for now and potentially until opening day.
If serious, Domantas Sabonis’ injury would be a major hit to the Pacers.
Indiana must tread cautiously here, not only due to Sabonis’ importance to the team but the fact that these players have not stepped on the court in months.
Sabonis was having a career year prior to the shutdown, averaging 18.5 points and 12.4 rebounds per game, en route to earning his first All-Star appearance.
Oladipo has seen minimal action this season, and the two-time All-Star’s return would be significant for an Indiana team looking to make a run in the playoffs. That one-two punch looks like a very dangerous prospect, but there are far too many questions until that becomes a reality.
