On Sunday, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers to win their second consecutive game after the All-Star break and third straight overall. Tonight, they will host the Denver Nuggets, who are looking to bounce back after getting their nine-game winning streak snapped by the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.
Both teams are near the top of their conference. The Pacers are the No. 4 seed in the East and are just four games behind the New York Knicks for the No. 3 seed. As for the Nuggets, they are tied for the No. 2 seed with the Memphis Grizzlies (though they technically stand as the No. 3 seed). While not probable, there is a chance that tonight's matchup is an NBA Finals preview.
This is the first time both teams will go head-to-head against each other this season. The Nuggets are winners of eight straight against Indiana, with their last loss being on January 19, 2020.
Here is the full injury report for the Pacers and Nuggets, including an injury update on T.J. McConnell.
2/24 Pacers injury report vs. Nuggets
- RayJ Dennis (G League) - AVAILABLE
- Enrique Freeman (G League) - OUT
- Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) - OUT
- Quenton Jackson (G League) - OUT
- James Johnson (illness) - AVAILABLE
- T.J. McConnell (ankle) - OUT
Pacers backup point guard T.J. McConnell suffered a right ankle injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday night's victory against the Clippers and was forced to leave the game early. Furthermore, the Pacers have listed him as questionable against the Nuggets. Point guard RayJ Dennis, however, is active and may get some playing time in McConnell's place.
James Johnson was inactive against the Clippers due to an illness, and he once again appears on the injury report. He is listed as available. However, though he is able to go, he is unlikely to play a significant amount of minutes anyway as he is only averaging 3.2 minutes across 10 games.
2/24 Nuggets injury report vs. Pacers
- Trey Alexander (G League) - OUT
- Vlatko Cancar (knee) - OUT
- Aaron Gordon (calf) - AVAILABLE
- PJ Hall (G League) - OUT
- DaRon Holmes II (Achilles) - OUT
- Jamal Murray (knee) - AVAILABLE
- Peyton Watson (knee) - OUT
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray is on the injury report due to knee inflammation, but he will play regardless. The Canadian native has only missed one game in 2025 and has been essential to the Nuggets' success this season.
Aaron Gordon, who has only appeared in 34 games this season, is also on the injury report for the Nuggets because of calf injury management. However, he is also listed as available. Gordon is shooting 42.7% from beyond on the arc, which is a career-high for the Arizona alum.
Vlatko Cancar missed all of the 2023-24 season due to an ACL and suffered another knee injury after four games this season that required surgery. The Slovenian native is not officially ruled out for the rest of the season, but he will not suit up against Indiana. Furthermore, Peyton Watson suffered a knee injury on January 31 and is out against the Pacers, though he is expected back before the end of the season.
Rookie forward DaRon Holmes II suffered an Achilles injury during his Summer League debut and is officially out for the entire season. Trey Alexander and PJ Hall are also expected to be out against the Pacers due to G League assignments.
Projected starting lineups
Indiana Pacers
PG: Tyrese Haliburton
SG: Andrew Nembhard
SF: Aaron Nesmith
PF: Pascal Siakam
C: Myles Turner
Denver Nuggets
PG: Jamal Murray
SG: Christian Braun
SF: Michael Porter Jr.
PF: Aaron Gordon
C: Nikola Jokic