Jarace Walker to Miss Two Games
Jarace Walker to Miss Two Games originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Indiana Pacers, for the most part, have been healthy during their playoff run to the NBA Finals. Against the Oklahoma City Thunder, their luck will change.
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In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, forward Jarace Walker rolled his ankle while defending Karl-Anthony Towns. He was unable to leave the court on his own power and was seen on crutches the following day, although there was no cast or boot.
Still, the Pacers will be without him for at least Games 1 and 2.
"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," Rick Carlisle said on 107.5 The Fan. "The fact that the Finals are stretched out over a pretty significant period of time gives him a chance to recover."
Walker is not an elite scorer, although he provides some extra defensive depth that the Pacers will sorely need against the Thunder. While Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Obi Toppin are capable of slowing down Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it was expected that Walker would be able to play a bigger role if needed.
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He scored 12 and 10 points in the two regular-season games against the Thunder, and while he slotted into a more limited role in the postseason, he remains one of the more talented defenders on the team.
Game 1 will tip off at Paycom Center on June 5, with coverage on ABC.
Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.
Related: Why Indiana Pacers Are Massive Underdogs Against OKC Thunder in NBA Finals
Related: Selfless Indiana Pacers Not Exempt From 'Face of the League' Debate
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
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