After missing time in the preseason, the Indiana Pacers plan to have Warren and Turner back on opening night.
The Indiana Pacers open their 2020-21 season on Dec. 23 when they host the New York Knicks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Their preseason consisted of three exhibition games, two of which did not include Myles Turner who battled illness. T.J. Warren did not play at all in the exhibitions thanks to plantar fasciitis.
Indiana dealt with injuries for most of the 2019-20 season and things are already looking to mirror that once again. Plenty of players were limited in the preseason after a very short offseason period to rest up and get back to full strength. On the bright side, Myles Turner and T.J. Warren are trending in the right direction.
Myles Turner and T.J. Warren were available to practice today, says Coach Bjorkgren.
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 20, 2020
"They were in a full, physical contact practice today, and they looked good."
With just two days remaining before the season begins, the Pacers were able to incorporate Turner and Warren into practice at full capacity, which suggests they will be ready to go against the Knicks. As long as Warren has no pain in the coming days, he will return to the starting lineup that saw Aaron Holiday in his place.
For Turner, the illness was not COVID-19 related but it was enough to keep him out of action for the final two tune-ups. His return will bring veteran leadership on the defensive end.
Warren’s return should get fans excited as we head into the new season. The Pacers looked like a whole new team under Nate Bjorkgren despite bringing back 13 players from last year’s roster. The fast-paced offense that now loves to shoot threes will play in Warren’s favor.
Warren took strides last season as a perimeter shooter, and with a higher volume coming his way this season, he is in for a huge uptick in production. The Pacers will have five starters who can go for 20 points on any given night. In the final preseason game, three such starters scored at least 20 points against the 76ers.
Domantas Sabonis (26), Malcolm Brogdon (21), and Victor Oladipo (20) all found ways to score in their final effort of the preseason. Adding Warren, the team’s leading scorer last season, is only good news moving forward.