Pacers Vs Wizards: Wizards 112, Pacers 105 — Pacers Announce Siakam Will Miss Game
The Pacers Vs Wizards matchup ended with the Washington Wizards defeating the Indiana Pacers, 112-105, in a game decided in a back-and-forth fourth quarter. The result moved Washington to 15-39 and the Pacers to 15-41. Ahead of the contest the Pacers announced that forward Pascal Siakam would miss their first game after the All-Star break for personal reasons, and the club updated availability on several rotation players.
Pacers Vs Wizards: Game recap and standings impact
The Wizards beat the Pacers 112-105 after a late fourth-quarter exchange that swung the outcome in Washington's favor. The published recap notes the contest featured a back-and-forth fourth quarter; afterward the teams' records were listed as Washington 15-39 and Indiana 15-41. That scoreboard change followed the teams' return from the All-Star break.
Pacers roster updates and Siakam status
Team announcements ahead of the game outlined a series of availability changes. Forward Pascal Siakam will miss the Pacers' first game after the All-Star break for personal reasons; the update also stated that point guard T. J. McConnell will not play in the game in Washington. At the same time, forward Aaron Nesmith and center Micah Potter were listed as available.
Additional long-term and short-term player status items were outlined in the team listing. Recently acquired center Ivica Zubac was still listed as out with a left ankle sprain and had not appeared in a game with the Pacers since he was acquired on Feb. 5. Forward Obi Toppin remained out with a stress fracture in his right foot; he has been sidelined since Oct. 26, and while there was mention of some action in practice, his return was described as still some time away.
The Pacers also have season-ending injuries on the books: All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton was listed out for the season with a right Achilles tendon tear, and forward Johnny Furphy was listed out for the season with a right ACL tear. Earlier injury listings had three rotation players flagged as questionable—Aaron Nesmith with a lumbar sprain, T. J. McConnell with right hamstring soreness, and Micah Potter with a left ankle sprain—but the pregame update adjusted those statuses into the availability notes above.
The roster update also referenced prior league discipline: the club was fined $100, 000 for holding Siakam and two other starters out of a game on Feb. 3 for rest reasons. Siakam's recent on-court profile was detailed in the availability note: he had played in 51 of the Pacers' 55 games prior to the All-Star break, scored in double figures in every one of those games, reached at least 20 points in 40 of the 51, and was listed as leading the Pacers with averages of 23. 7 points and 6. 7 rebounds per game while also averaging 3. 9 assists per game.
Wizards status and what to watch next
The Wizards' pregame listing showed several players out: All-Stars Anthony Davis and Trae Young, 2024 No. 2 pick Alex Sarr, forward Cam Whitmore and guard De'Angelo Russell were all listed as out. Two of those players, Davis and Whitmore, were noted as shut down for the season. Pre-game commentary characterized the matchup as part of a back-to-back set with clear implications in the battle to the bottom of the standings.
For now, the immediate takeaways are straightforward: Washington earned a narrow win in a game decided late, the standings shifted with Washington at 15-39 and Indiana at 15-41, and Indiana entered the contest without Pascal Siakam and without T. J. McConnell, while Aaron Nesmith and Micah Potter were available. Details and availability may evolve moving forward; teams' rosters and statuses could change for the next leg of the schedule.
