Bennedict Mathurin to miss at least next three games for Indiana Pacers with shoulder injury
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin is dealing with a right shoulder sprain that will keep him out for at least three more games.
Mathurin, who played in the Pacers win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday and finished with 19 points, missed Indiana's loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves last night with the shoulder injury. He was ruled out about two hours before the game started by head coach Rick Carisle.
"He'll be re-evaluated after the upcoming [road] trip. He will not play the next four games for sure," Carlisle said. That was before the Pacers vs Timberwolves game, so the four games Carlisle is referring to includes that battle. "The re-evaluation day is a game at home against Chicago, so I don't see him playing that game."
Indiana hosts Chicago next Wednesday — one day after returning from a short road trip. After that, they have two days off before a March 16 battle against the Brooklyn Nets. That's the earliest Mathurin could return.
"We hope it's not serious. He's a guy that bounces back very quickly and hates missing games," Carlisle said of Mathurin's injury. "We hope that it's relatively short term. He will miss a week, at least."
Mathurin has played in 59 of Indiana's 64 games so far this season. He has been largely healthy, a trend from his entire career. The most consecutive games he has missed this season is two.
That number will now grow for Mathurin as he is set to miss at least four in a row. He is averaging 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game this season while shooting 44.6% from the field.
The Pacers are 2-3 without the second-year guard this season. He has been an important part of one of the best second units in the NBA.
Without Mathurin, the blue and gold relied on Jarace Walker for rotation minutes against Minnesota. If Doug McDermott returns from his calf injury prior to Mathurin being back in the lineup, he could be in the mix for more playing time as well. The Pacers will generally lean more on their other wings and off-ball guards — including Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and Ben Sheppard — with Mathurin sidelined.
Carlisle didn't say when the 21-year old guard injured his shoulder. Either way, he's out at least a week for Indiana as they look to make up ground in the standings.
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