The Indiana Pacers are 2-0 to begin the new year and are looking to add another game to their streak as they take on the Brooklyn Nets. This is the second time these two teams will go head-to-head this season. On December 4, the Pacers lost in Brooklyn by a score of 99-90. However, at the time, the Pacers were just 9-14 and have turned things around drastically since then.
Furthermore, the Nets are also a different team, just for a different reason. Since their victory against the Pacers, they have traded Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith (a player the Pacers would have benefited from acquiring). This will be the first time the Pacers face take on this new-look Nets team.
Here is the full injury report for the Pacers and Nets ahead of tonight's game.
1/6 Pacers injury report vs. Nets
- RayJ Dennis (G League) - OUT
- Enrique Freeman (G League) - DOUBTFUL
- Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) - OUT
- Quenton Jackson (G League) - DOUBTFUL
- Aaron Nesmith (ankle) - OUT
- James Wiseman (Achilles) - OUT
The Pacers' injury report is essentially copy-and-paste at this point. Aaron Nesmith remains out due to an ankle injury that has sidelined him since early November. As it stands, the Vanderbilt alum still has no timetable for his return, though he is progressing in his recovery.
1/6 Nets injury report vs. Pacers
- Bojan Bogdanovic (foot) - OUT
- Cam Johnson (ankle) - OUT
- Maxwell Lewis (tibia) - OUT
- De'Anthony Melton (ACL) - OUT
- D'Angelo Russell (shin) - QUESTIONABLE
- Ben Simmons (back) - QUESTIONABLE
- Cam Thomas (hamstring) - OUT
- Trendon Watford (hamstring) - OUT
- Dariq Whitehead (G League assignment) - AVAILABLE
The Nets are going to be very short-handed against the Pacers. Most notably, they will be without Cam Thomas, their leading scorer, who is averaging 24.7 points per game this season.
Furthermore, they will be without Cam Johnson, their second-highest scorer this season. Johnson, who has missed just three games this season, is a name Pacers fans might need to get familiar with as they have entered his sweepstakes in a potential deal ahead of this year's trade deadline.
Bojan Bogdanovic, who the Nets re-acquired from the New York Knicks in the offseason, has yet to appear in a game this season due to a foot injury. He will also miss tonight's game against the Pacers.
D'Angelo Russell, who Brooklyn also re-acquired in a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, suffered a leg injury against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday after 14 minutes. He did not return to the game and is questionable against Indiana. Maxwell Lewis, who the Nets acquired in the same trade, suffered a tibia fracture and will likely be out for at least a month.
The Nets landed D'Anthony Melton from the Golden State Warriors as part of the Schroder trade. However, at the time of the trade, Melton was already ruled out for the rest of the season due to an ACL injury.
Ben Simmons, who has missed nine games this season, is listed as questionable due to a back injury.
Trendon Watford will miss his 10th consecutive game due to a hamstring injury. However, Dariq Whitehead, who has played just four games this season, is listed as available for Brooklyn.