Domantas Sabonis exits Raptors game in first quarter with knee contusion
Domantas Sabonis exits Raptors game in first quarter with knee contusion
He's second on the Pacers in scoring and leads the NBA in minutes per game (38.3).
Pacers center Domantas Sabonis left Monday’s game against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter and did not return due to injury.
Sabonis sustained a left knee contusion with 5:19 left in the first after banging knees with Raptors guard Kyle Lowry — who drove into the lane, drew the foul and made both foul shots.
Sabonis immediately reached down to feel his left knee, but stayed in. Four minutes later, he checked out and was evaluated by associate head athletic trainer Carl Eaton, as shown below by the local TV broadcast. He then walked back to the locker room on his own without favoring his left leg.
At this point, team orthopedist Dr. Tim Hupfer was summoned back to the locker room and team executives followed.
A short while later, team president Kevin Pritchard and GM Chad Buchanan returned from the locker room — but Sabonis did not. His night was done. With 7:11 left in the half, head athletic trainer Josh Corbeil informed Bjorkgren at the end of a timeout.
Then at halftime, as the Pacers led the Raptors 70-60, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that X-rays showed no structural damage and an MRI was scheduled for Tuesday.
Coach Nate Bjorkgren confirmed as much following their 129-114 win. “I was just talking to him about it a little bit when he was sitting there in the chair after the game. I think they’ll take a look at it tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”
Sabonis was not on the bench for the second half; sixth man Jeremy Lamb started the third quarter in his place.
“Hopefully big fellas back soon and we continue to roll how we’re rolling,” added Myles Turner, who finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
Sabonis scored 11 points in 11 minutes — but with just three rebounds, his streak of 16 consecutive double-doubles to begin the season came to an end.
He’s once again having an All-Star season, averaging 20.9 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game — all career highs. Already, the Pacers are without starters T.J. Warren (left foot surgery) and Caris LeVert (medical condition).
Final thought: What is it with the Pacers and injuries against the Raptors? Victor Oladipo ruptured his right quad tendon against them in 2019 and in 2020, Jeremy Lamb suffered season-ending left-knee injuries while in Toronto.