After dropping their fifth straight game in a 103-95 loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday night, the Indiana Pacers are limping back home-both figuratively and literally. Their next test? A Tuesday night matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, a team that’s also been searching for consistency and has managed just seven wins since the start of November.
These two squads met once earlier this season on November 3, with the Bucks narrowly escaping with a 117-115 win. Tuesday’s game will be the second of four meetings between the Central Division rivals, and both teams will enter the contest with injury reports that read more like a medical chart than a game preview.
Pacers Injury Report: Depth Being Tested
Indiana's injury list is long-and impactful. The headline absence is All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who remains sidelined with an Achilles issue. Without their floor general, the Pacers have struggled to find rhythm on offense, and it’s shown in their recent skid.
Isaiah Jackson, who exited early in Monday’s game against Boston after a head injury, has been diagnosed with a concussion and is officially out. His absence leaves Indiana thinner in the frontcourt, where his energy and rim protection have been valuable off the bench.
Veteran point guard T.J. McConnell is listed as questionable with left knee soreness.
He missed Monday’s game and remains day-to-day. If he can’t go, it puts even more pressure on Indiana’s already depleted backcourt.
Aaron Nesmith (knee), Ben Sheppard (calf), and Obi Toppin (foot) are also ruled out, further straining the Pacers’ rotation. All three have played meaningful minutes this season, and without them, head coach Rick Carlisle will have to dig deep into the bench.
Second-round rookie Kam Jones, who made his NBA debut in garbage time against Boston and scored his first two points, is listed as questionable. While he’s unlikely to see major minutes if the game stays close, his availability could be crucial if the Pacers face early foul trouble or further injuries.
Taelon Peter, who’s spent most of the season with the G League affiliate and has logged just 10 minutes in December, is probable to suit up. With Indiana’s injury situation, even fringe rotation players like Peter could be called on for spot duty.
Bucks Injury Report: Giannis Still Out
Milwaukee isn’t coming in at full strength either. The big news continues to be the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who remains out with a right calf strain.
He hasn’t played since December 3 and is expected to be sidelined until at least early January. Through 17 games this season, Giannis was putting up MVP-caliber numbers-28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game, while shooting a blistering 63.9% from the field.
His absence has left a major void on both ends of the floor.
Taurean Prince is also out indefinitely after undergoing neck surgery in early November. The veteran forward hasn’t played since November 4 and may not return this season, depending on his recovery.
Alex Antetokounmpo is listed as out due to a G League assignment and won’t be available for Tuesday’s contest.
What to Watch For
With both teams missing key contributors, this game could come down to who gets more from their role players. The Pacers are in desperate need of a spark to break their five-game losing streak, but they’ll have to find it without several of their top options. Look for Indiana to lean heavily on Myles Turner and Buddy Hield to carry the load offensively, while younger players may get extended looks out of necessity.
For Milwaukee, the challenge is finding enough offensive firepower without Giannis. Expect Damian Lillard to take on a larger scoring role, while Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton will need to step up on both ends of the floor.
Both teams are banged up, but the stakes remain high. With the Eastern Conference standings still tightly packed, every win-and every loss-matters. Tuesday night in Indianapolis may not feature the full star power these rosters can offer, but it will be a test of depth, coaching, and resilience.