The Indiana Pacers have fully embraced their plan for the remainder of the season: developing young guys and losing enough games to retain the lottery pick they hope to have in May. Unfortunately, this means a lot more injury updates for guys like Pascal Siakam.
Indiana currently sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a record of 15-43, one game behind the Brooklyn Nets, who have a record of 15-41. The only team worse than the Pacers right now is the Sacramento Kings, who have a record of 12-46.
With Tuesday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers scheduled, Pascal Siakam is listed as "questionable" due to a left wrist sprain. This is the first time Siakam has been listed with an injury in recent weeks as his availability alternates between active and inactive for the Pacers.
Siakam missed the first game of the All-Star break due to personal reasons, and was changed for the second game after the break in the management of his left hamstring injury. He played in Sunday's game against the Dallas Mavericks, recording 30 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes of play in a 134–130 Mavs victory.
The Pacers have every incentive to lose as many games as possible over the remainder of this season. The Pacers traded their 2026 first-round draft pick to the LA Clippers with protection if it falls to 1-4 or 10-30. So if the pick falls 5-9, this would be considered the Clippers fully loaded draft and potentially the best one ever when it is all said and done.
This selection was part of the package that Indiana sold to the Clippers for Ivica Zubac. In the deal, the Pacers traded Benedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and two first-round picks to Los Angeles for All-Defensive center in Zubac.
In 52 games played so far this season, Siakam has averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from three. Siakam was named to his fourth NBA All-Star team this season despite the Pacers' poor record, which highlights how good he is.
