It’s been three weeks since Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin last played in a game. He suffered a right great big toe sprain in a 128–103 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 25.
Mathurin was upgraded to questionable by the team on Sunday after they arrived in Detroit to face the red-hot Pistons — winners in 11 of 13 games, including nine straight.
This would be just his third appearance of the season. Before suffering the injury, he opened the year with games of 36 and 26 points.
The Pacers are 1–12 to begin the season — the worst start in franchise history — and 0–7 on the road. They need any boost they can get.
It’s been an injury-filled season already for Indiana, with more than a dozen names appearing on the injury report. Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell returned last week, but then they lost Aaron Nesmith for at least four weeks due to a left MCL sprain.
Nesmith, Kam Jones and Obi Toppin are out for the foreseeable future — along with All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is out for the season.
Scott Agness is the longest-tenured Pacers beat reporter. He enters his 14th season covering the team and he's been around The Fieldhouse since 2003. He runs Fieldhouse Files — covering the Pacers, Boom, and Fever — and hosts "The Fieldhouse Files Podcast."