The San Antonio Spurs host the Indiana Pacers on Friday, January 2, with injuries shaping the game at Frost Bank Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET as both teams arrive on opposite sides of the standings.
San Antonio enters the night with a 24-9 record and is coming off a 134-132 home win over New York on December 31. The Spurs had dropped a 113-101 loss to Cleveland two days earlier, but remain among the West’s top performers.
Indiana has struggled all season and brings a 6-28 record to San Antonio. The Pacers are on a 10-game losing streak after a narrow 112-110 home loss to Orlando on December 31.
The Spurs’ injury report The leader is the absence of Victor Wembanyama, who is absent with pain in his left knee. San Antonio will also be without Devin Vassell due to a left adductor strain, removing two of its top scoring options.
Several two-way players, including Harrison Ingram, David Jones Garcia and Stanley Umude, are also unavailable due to G League assignments. With these absences, San Antonio’s rotation is expected to rely heavily on De’Aaron Fox and the remaining frontcourt depth.
Fox has averaged 21.8 points and 6.0 assists in 24 games and remains the main offensive engine. Stephon Castle has also taken on a bigger role, posting 17.9 points and 7.0 assists per game while operating as a secondary creator.
Indiana faces an even bigger challenge after losing Tyrese Haliburton for the season with a right Achilles tendon tear. Obi Toppin is also out with a stress fracture in his right foot, further thinning the Pacers’ frontcourt.
Reserve guard TJ McConnell is listed as probable with right hamstring soreness, while Isaiah Jackson remains out due to a concussion. Those injuries have forced Indiana to rely heavily on its remaining starters.
Pascal Siakam has carried the offensive load, averaging 23.5 points and 6.6 rebounds in 33 games. Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard have also seen increased usage as the Pacers look to stabilize their backcourt.
It is the first meeting between the teams this season.
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