On Friday night, the Indiana Pacers will finish the month of February on the road in a game against the Miami Heat. This will be the final time both teams face off in the regular season, and it is the first time the Pacers will take on the Heat since the blockbuster Jimmy Butler trade. The Pacers have won four of their last five games and are looking great. As for the Heat, they are just 2-6 since trading Butler to the Golden State Warriors.
This game is an important one for both teams. The Pacers own the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, but they are just 0.5 games ahead of the No. 5 seed Milwaukee Bucks and one game ahead of the No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons. Miami, on the other hand, stand as the No. 8 seed in the East and are just a game behind the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic.
Here is the full injury report ahead of Friday night's game between the Pacers and Heat, including a new update on Bennedict Mathurin.
2/28 Pacers injury report vs. Heat
- RayJ Dennis (G League) - QUESTIONABLE
- Enrique Freeman (G League) - QUESTIONABLE
- Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) - OUT
- Quenton Jackson (G League) - QUESTIONABLE
- Bennedict Mathurin (wrist) - OUT
- T.J. McConnell (ankle) - AVAILABLE
Bennedict Mathurin popped up on the Pacers' injury report because of a wrist sprain, and the team has officially ruled him out against Miami. The Canadian native has missed just two games this season. With him out, the Pacers will likely rely even more heavily on Aaron Nesmith, who has continued to prove his importance.
After leaving the Pacers' victory over the Los Angeles Clippers early with an ankle injury, T.J. McConnell was inactive for their last two games. He is once again on the injury report but is listed as available.
2/28 Heat injury report vs. Pacers
- Bam Adebayo (calf) - AVAILABLE
- Josh Christopher (G League) - OUT
- Tyler Herro (shoulder) - AVAILABLE
- Keshad Johnson (G League) - OUT
- Nikola Jovic (hand) - OUT
- Dru Smith (Achilles) - OUT
- Isaiah Stevens (G League) - OUT
- Kel'el Ware (ankle) - AVAILABLE
- Andrew Wiggins (ankle) - OUT
Bam Adebayo is listed on the Heat's injury report, but he is listed as available with a calf injury. The big man has missed just two games for the Heat this season. Miami is 0-2 in those games.
Tyler Herro, who made his first All-Star team this year, is also listed on the injury report with a shoulder injury. However, the Heat have listed him as available. Furthermore, Rookie center Kel'el Ware is also listed on the injury report due to an ankle injury, but he will be available as well.
Miami's third-year forward Nikola Jovic suffered a hand injury earlier this week and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. He has already missed each of the Heat's last two games and will be out against Indiana.
Heat newcomer Andrew Wiggins, who the team acquired from the Warriors as part of the Butler trade, is on the injury report because of an ankle injury. He will be inactive.
Projected starting lineups
Indiana Pacers
PG: Tyrese Haliburton
SG: Andrew Nembhard
SF: Aaron Nesmith
PF: Pascal Siakam
C: Myles Turner
Miami Heat
PG: Tyler Herro
SG: Davion Mitchell
SF: Andrew Wiggins
PF: Bam Adebayo
C: Kel'el Ware