Why the Pacers Had Only Six Players Available Against Atlanta

The Indiana Pacers used only six players in Monday’s home loss to Atlanta after injuries, illness and rest left them with one available reserve. Kelly Oubre Jr.’s late withdrawal with a bruised knee reduced the group shortly before tipoff.

Coach Rick Carlisle initially expected to have seven players. The Associated Press reported that Indiana ultimately had 11 unavailable, including Tyrese Haliburton with a hamstring injury and Pascal Siakam, who was resting on the second night of a back-to-back.

Jarace Walker, Jay Huff, Quenton Jackson, Braden Smith and Jalen Slawson started. Kobe Brown was the only substitute. Smith made his first NBA start, and three members of the available group were on two-way contracts: Smith, Slawson and Brown.

The other absences were Johnny Furphy, T.J. McConnell, Larry Nance Jr., Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Ben Sheppard, Obi Toppin and Ivica Zubac. Their listed problems included knee, hamstring, cervical, back and ankle injuries, plus Nance’s illness.

It was the first time since 2004 that Indiana used so few players, according to the AP. The shortage did not mean every missing player faced the same recovery period. Some were expected to miss weeks; Siakam’s absence was specifically listed as rest.

Indiana next plays Wednesday at Memphis. The NBA has no games Tuesday, November 3, leaving the Pacers a day between games before their next availability decisions.