The Indiana Pacers are looking to bounce back after getting absolutely dismantled by the Lakers. An Austin Reaves 45-point masterclass in a matchup without LeBron James or Luka Doncic had essentially thrown the Pacers to the wolves. But as they gear up to host the New York Knicks, they might have a serious problem on their hands—Myles Turner.

The Tom Thibodeau-led Knicks, powered by All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, could be a nightmare matchup for the Pacers, especially if Turner isn’t in the lineup to anchor the paint. 

Unfortunately, per the latest reports, Myles Turner is confirmed to be out for the Knicks clash. In fact, according to Rick Carlisle, the 2x Blocks Leader will not suit up vs the Wizards tomorrow, either. The team is looking at sometime after the All-Star break as a potential return timeline.

His status remained questionable after missing the Lakers game, with the team dubbing it a game-time decision. The 28-year-old big man is dealing with a neck injury and a cervical strain, adding to an already rough stretch of health concerns. Turner initially went down on February 6 against the Clippers after an accidental shot to the neck. That forced him to leave the game early, just days after he was already battling a peroneal injury from February 3.

Having Turner back would be huge for Indiana’s frontcourt, especially with the Knicks coming in red-hot, winning seven of their last nine. If he can’t go, the Pacers could be in for a long night. 

Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam will look to carry the Pacers’ offense in Myles Turner’s absence

If Turner can’t suit up, the Pacers will have to lean heavily on their star duo—Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam—to carry the load. Haliburton’s pace and playmaking will be key, as he sets the tone for Indiana’s offense with 8.5 assists per game. Meanwhile, their lone All-Star, Siakam, leads the team in both scoring (20.7 PPG) and rebounding (7.4 RPG).

But having Myles would have been an instant game-changer. His presence is felt on both ends. The big man has been a steady contributor, averaging 15.1 points and 6.6 rebounds in 46 games while anchoring the defense with 1.8 blocks and 0.8 steals per game. His rim protection is something the Pacers would love to have against a gritty Knicks frontcourt that thrives on physicality.

But it’s not just his defense—Turner’s ability to stretch the floor (shooting nearly 40% from deep) creates valuable space for Haliburton to attack and break down the Knicks’ defense. Without that spacing, Indiana’s offense might have a tougher time finding open looks.

The Pacers got the better of the Knicks in their last meeting, winning 132-121 behind Bennedict Mathurin’s explosive 38-point, 8-rebound performance. On the other side, Jalen Brunson did his best to keep New York in it, dropping 33 points and 10 assists.

The Pacers will need another big-time performance to take down a red-hot Knicks squad this time around.