Pacers’ Jarace Walker Out for Start of NBA Finals with Ankle Injury
Jarace Walker will miss at least the first two games of the NBA Finals after hurting his right ankle in the Pacers’ series-clinching win over the Knicks.
“He’s going to be out for a while. I don’t know how long. He certainly will not play in the first two games of the Finals,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told 107.5 The Fan on Monday.
The rookie forward was still on crutches as of Sunday, with significant swelling in his ankle.
“The fact that the Finals are stretched out over a pretty significant period of time gives him a chance to recover,” Carlisle added, offering a glimmer of hope for the young player’s return.
The injury happened early in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s Game 6 against New York. Walker jumped to block a shot and landed awkwardly on the side of his right foot, causing his leg to bend in an unnatural way.
He tried to tough it out, staying down for two more possessions before eventually crawling off the court. It took two trainers to help him to the locker room, and he didn’t return to the game.
The earliest Walker could suit up against the Oklahoma City Thunder would be June 11 for Game 3. Game 1 tips off Thursday.
Walker hasn’t been a major minutes-getter for the Pacers this postseason, averaging just 3.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 12 playoff games off the bench. His shooting has been decent though – 38.2% overall and a solid 40% from three-point range.
He made the most of his limited playing time against the Knicks, scoring his only basket Saturday in seven minutes of action. He also chipped in six points during Indiana’s Game 5 loss.
The Pacers acquired Walker in a draft-night deal last year after the Washington Wizards selected him eighth overall. Indiana sent the draft rights to Bilal Coulibaly (the seventh pick) to Washington in exchange for Walker and two future second-round picks.
The move brought in a player with an impressive pedigree. Walker was the highest-drafted prospect from the University of Houston since basketball legend Hakeem Olajuwon went first overall to the Houston Rockets back in 1984.
Now the Pacers will need to navigate the start of their championship series without their promising rookie as they face the Thunder in what promises to be an exciting NBA Finals matchup.
