The Indiana Pacers opened up their 2022-23 season on Wednesday night at home with a hard-fought 114-107 loss to Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards.
Of the many reasons you might be able to point to for the loss, the one that stands out the most is that the Pacers’ star big man, Myles Turner, didn’t play.
The reason? A sprained left ankle.
But when did this happen? Turner finished the preseason healthy and had intentions of playing in Wednesday’s opener. In fact, he even suited up and began warming up.
It was during those pregame warmups that he suffered his ankle injury as he landed on a ball boy who was positioned under the rim.
Pacers center Myles Turner is expected to miss at least one week after suffering an ankle sprain when he landed on a ball boy under the rim in pregame warmups Wednesday night, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 20, 2022
As much of a fluke as the injury is, it’s common for Turner. The elite shot-blocking center had missed 65 regular-season games over the past two seasons before Wednesday’s opener.
Amidst the constant trade rumors that have surrounded him over the years — including the most recent ones linking him to the Lakers in a potential Russell Westbrook trade — Turner will have to fight the injury bug once again.
Hopefully, this fluky situation isn’t a sign of things to come.
