The Pacers took a tough hit Sunday night - and not just on the scoreboard.
Midway through the third quarter against the Raptors, second-year forward Johnny Furphy came down awkwardly after a dunk attempt and immediately grabbed his right leg near the knee. The 21-year-old stayed down in visible pain before being helped off the court. Moments later, he was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair, a concerning sight for a team already stretched thin.
The initial diagnosis: right leg soreness. But there’s still plenty of uncertainty. Head coach Rick Carlisle didn’t offer much clarity postgame, saying Furphy will undergo testing in New York and that the team is “hoping it’s not that bad.”
That’s the best-case scenario for Indiana, which can ill afford to lose another rotation player. Furphy, a native of Australia and a one-and-done product from Kansas, has carved out a meaningful role in his sophomore season.
He came into Sunday averaging 5.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, shooting a solid 46.6% from the field and 32.4% from deep. He’s started 20 of the 34 games he’s played in, and while the box score numbers don’t jump off the page, his impact has been felt in the dirty work - rebounding, switching defensively, and playing within the team’s system.
Carlisle has consistently praised Furphy’s defense and team-first mentality, and it’s easy to see why. He’s the kind of glue guy every good team needs - someone who doesn’t need the ball to make a difference and who takes pride in the less glamorous parts of the game. That’s especially valuable on a Pacers squad that thrives in transition and needs versatile defenders to keep up with today’s positionless offenses.
But now, Indiana’s depth is being tested in a big way. With Furphy sidelined, the Pacers are down to just nine available players.
Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin are still out with longer-term injuries, and recently acquired Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown haven’t yet joined the team on the road. None of the team’s two-way players are currently active either.
It’s a tough stretch for a team that’s been trying to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Pacers have leaned heavily on their pace-and-space offense, but without key contributors, they’ll need to dig deep - and potentially lean on some unproven names - to keep things moving.
As for Furphy, all eyes now turn to the results of Monday’s testing. The hope, of course, is that it’s just a scare. But until there’s more clarity, Indiana holds its breath.