Pacers links: Sabonis injury has Pacers shifting on the fly...again

It didn’t look good when Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis limped off the floor in Detroit late in the team’s loss to the Pistons on Monday night. But the news on Tuesday that Sabonis would be out “out for a couple of games,” sounded even worse.

With Victor Oladipo out, losing another key cog on the heels of surviving without Myles Turner for a couple of games, has Nate McMillan juggling his playing rotation even further during a stretch of games on the schedule that the Pacers need to lock up wins before things turn gnarly late next week.

Sabonis has been a security blanket of late off the bench, helping the Pacers rebound from poor starts to games. Looking at the back-to-back in Dallas and then at home against Minnesota on Thursday, it is safe to say Domas will sit. Then the Pacers have two home games in six days before heading to Milwaukee a week from Thursday.

Sabonis will have ample time to rest and rehab the ankle at home, so hopefully the worst case scenario is he misses those two home games against Orlando and Chicago and then is ready for the 11-game gauntlet through March.

There is no ‘woe is me’ worries coming from the Pacers locker room, though as J. Michael reported from Dallas.

“Domas is going to be missed but we think we can handle it with those two guys coming in soaking up those minutes,” Young said. “T.J. has the ability to score. Kyle, we know he’s a bruiser, a rebounder, a defender and can knock down the mid-range jump shot. We’ll be good.”

The team expects to have Kyle O’Quinn fill in the reserve big role and will likely give more minutes to T.J. Leaf off the bench. Shorthanded or not, the Pacers will continue grinding for wins and they fully expect to find a way to make those wins happen.

Check out the links:

Game Preview: Pacers at Mavericks | Indiana Pacers

Pacers must shuffle lineups without Domantas Sabonis

Where Lakers and Celtics can look for inspiration - ESPN

Pacers to kick in $63M as part of deal to keep team in Indy

Wesley Matthews holds no grudge, but (jokingly, we think) says he’ll take all their heads off’ - Official Website of the Dallas Mavericks

Hops and Hoops 2019 | Indiana Pacers

Pistons match Pacers’ intensity, deliver first and last punch in emotional divisional battle – The Athletic

3 things to watch for when the Mavericks host the Pacers - Mavs Moneyball

Dallas Mavericks: After missing two games, Mavs guard Luka Doncic returns with triple-double versus Clippers | SportsDay

The 5 takeaways from the Mavs' 121-112 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers - Official Website of the Dallas Mavericks

Indiana Pacers: The Case for Domantas Sabonis for Sixth Man of the Year