NBA Notes: Pacers, Bennedict Mathurin, Lakers, Luka Doncic, Magic

Pacers

The Pacers are dealing with a brutal and almost unprecedented injury situation in their backcourt.

Six guards — Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles), T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Kam Jones (back), Quenton Jackson (hamstring), Johnny Furphy (foot) and Andrew Nembhard (shoulder) — were all sidelined for Saturday’s game in Memphis.

Two more guards went down during the blowout loss. Rookie Taelon Peter left with a sore groin, and Bennedict Mathurin exited with a sore right foot, according to the team.

That leaves just Ben Sheppard and two-way player RayJ Dennis as the only healthy guards on the roster. And even Sheppard chipped a tooth during the game, per Tony East of Circle City Spin.

Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said Mathurin’s injury appears to be in the “forefoot” and that he could undergo imaging once the team finds a facility in Minneapolis on Sunday, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.

Mathurin, who will be a restricted free agent next summer, was walking gingerly after the game but wasn’t in a boot or using crutches.

Nembhard’s injury occurred during the opener against Oklahoma City when he tangled with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, per Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files.

Given the extent of the team’s injury list, the Pacers could soon qualify for one or more hardship roster exceptions.

Lakers

Luka Doncic is officially questionable for Sunday’s matchup against the Kings due to a left finger sprain, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports.

Doncic suffered the injury early in Friday’s win over Minnesota but still finished the game — and broke a franchise record with 92 combined points through his first two contests of the season.

Jaxson Hayes (left knee soreness) is also questionable for Los Angeles.

On the other side, Zach LaVine is questionable for Sacramento with an illness, according to Sean Cunningham of NBC Sacramento.

Magic

The Magic are easing Jalen Suggs back after last season’s knee injury. Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel writes that Suggs is being limited to short bursts of playing time — around three to four minutes at a time — as part of his recovery from knee cartilage surgery.

“Those short bursts will help him in a lot of ways,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “He can settle down, analyze the game, and stay fresh. It’ll be that way for a while, but just having him out there is great.”

Suggs didn’t play in Saturday’s disappointing home loss to the Bulls on the second night of a back-to-back.

Meanwhile, Orlando’s G League affiliate Osceola Magic traded the rights of two-time Slam Dunk champion Mac McClung to the Windy City Bulls.

McClung spent the last two seasons with Osceola and appeared in two games for Orlando on a two-way deal.