The Pacers will be without backup guard George Hill indefinitely as he has a small chip fracture in his left ankle. He has played in 19 games (0 starts) for the Pacers so far this year and he is averaging 24.7 minutes, 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. With Hill out of action, the Pacers need 21-year old Lance Stepenson to step up. He has played in 17 games (0 starts) for the Pacers so far this year and he is averaging 8.8 minutes, 2.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Stephenson is only shooting a paltry 34.1% from the floor so far this year, which is pathetic.

The Indiana Pacers will likely be without starting point guard Darren Collison for the rest of this series due to a severely sprained left ankle. He has played in both games so far in this series and he has averaged 24.5 minutes, 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. With Collison likely out for the rest of this series, A.J. Price will replace him in the starting lineup. Price has played in 2 games (0 starts) in this series so far and he is averaging 19.0 minutes, 10.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. The Pacers will also have to get T.J. Ford out of mothballs as he will be Price’s backup. Ford played in his first game of this series last night and he worked 9 minutes in which he had 5 points and 1 assist. Collison’s injury is a big blow to the Pacers.

The Indiana Pacers will be without 30-year old SG/SF Mike Dunleavy indefinitely due to a broken left thumb. Dunleavy has played in 54 games (44 starts) so far this year for the Pacers and he is averaging 28.6 minutes, 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He is also shooting 40.7% from the floor so far this year and that will be missed. Brandon Rush & Paul George will likely see bumps in P.T. to help replace Dunleavy.

The Pacers will be without 25-year old shooting guard Brandon Rush for the next two weeks due to a sprained ankle. Rush has played in 37 games (13 starts) for the Pacers so far this year and he is averaging 29.1 minutes, 10.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. His main asset is his long range shooting as he has hit 41.7% from behind the three point line so far this year. The Pacers are hoping that 20-year old rookie Paul George will step up with Rush out of action. George has played in 21 games (0 starts) for the Pacers so far this year and he is averaging 15.7 minutes, 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.0 steal per game.

23-year old point guard A.J. Price will miss the next 4-6 months after he needed surgery to repair a fractured kneecap which he injured in a charity game. He does not have a fully guaranteed contract for the 2010-11 season but I don’t expect them to consider letting him go. He played in 56 games (2 starts) as a rookie last season for the Pacers and he averaged 15.4 minutes, 7.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. The Pacers are hoping that he will be ready to start the 2010-11 season.