Pacers Face Timberwolves With 7 Players Out, Edwards Exits Early

The Indiana Pacers' already challenging start to the 2025-26 NBA season took another devastating turn on Sunday night as they faced the Minnesota Timberwolves with a staggering seven players ruled out due to injuries. The situation worsened when Minnesota's All-Star guard Anthony Edwards exited in the first quarter with right hamstring tightness, creating an unexpected leveling effect in what appeared to be a heavily lopsided matchup.

Historic Injury Crisis Depletes Pacers Roster

The Pacers' injury report reads like a medical ward census, featuring a remarkable variety of ailments that have decimated the defending Eastern Conference champions' depth chart. Playing the second night of a back-to-back after a 128-103 blowout loss in Memphis, Indiana entered the Target Center with barely enough healthy bodies to field a competitive roster.

The casualty list includes leading scorer Bennedict Mathurin, who suffered a big toe sprain on his right foot during Saturday's game in Memphis after scoring 26 points in 28 minutes. Coach Rick Carlisle declined to discuss a timetable for Mathurin's return and expressed doubt that the guard would receive an MRI before Wednesday's visit to Dallas.

Complete Injury Breakdown

• Tyrese Haliburton - Out (right Achilles tendon tear, season-ending)
• Bennedict Mathurin - Out (right great toe sprain)
• Andrew Nembhard - Out (left shoulder strain)
• T.J. McConnell - Out (left hamstring strain)
• Johnny Furphy - Out (sore left foot)
• Taelon Peter - Out (right groin strain)
• Kam Jones - Out (lower back stress reaction)
• Quenton Jackson - Probable (right hamstring strain)

The loss of two-time All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton to an Achilles injury sustained in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against Oklahoma City remains the most devastating blow. Haliburton, who led the NBA's seventh-most prolific scoring offense at 117.4 points per game last season with his 20.2 points per game, won't play this season.

Makeshift Lineup Forces Creative Solutions

With only two regular starters available—Aaron Nesmith and Pascal Siakam—the Pacers were forced to field an unconventional lineup. Their full center rotation of Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff, and James Wiseman remained healthy, but the perimeter was essentially barren.

Ben Sheppard and RayJ Dennis represented the entirety of Indiana's backcourt depth. Carlisle acknowledged the challenge postgame Saturday: "Without playmakers, the game is much more difficult. On paper, we might have 10 or 11 guys [at Minnesota]. We'll see."

The Pacers likely had to deploy Nesmith and Siakam in smaller roles, with Obi Toppin potentially seeing time at the small forward position—a testament to just how depleted the roster had become.

Edwards' Early Exit Levels Playing Field

Just as the injury-plagued Pacers appeared destined for another lopsided defeat, Minnesota suffered its own setback. Anthony Edwards, who entered the game averaging over 27 points per game and coming off a franchise-record 41 points in the season opener, exited with 8:53 remaining in the first quarter after finishing a layup.

According to Chris Haynes of Amazon Prime and NBA TV, Edwards was ruled out for the remainder of the contest with right hamstring tightness. The Timberwolves called timeout with a 13-5 lead, and Bones Hyland entered the game when play resumed. At the end of the first frame, the game was knotted at 28-28.

Edwards had managed only five points and one rebound in three minutes before his departure, leaving Minnesota without its offensive catalyst and second All-NBA selection.

Historical Context and Resilience

Remarkably, this isn't the first time these teams have met under similar circumstances. Last season, the Pacers defeated the Timberwolves 132-130 in overtime at Target Center with four starters sidelined by injuries and their top six scorers all out by the end of the fourth quarter.

That previous victory demonstrated Indiana's resilience and depth—qualities being tested to their absolute limits this season. The defending Eastern Conference champions have started 0-2 after losing to Oklahoma City 141-135 in overtime in their season opener, a Finals rematch that highlighted just how difficult life without Haliburton would be.

Offensive Struggles Without Playmakers

The absence of primary playmakers has created a ripple effect throughout Indiana's offense. Pascal Siakam, whose 20.2 points per game last season helped drive that seventh-ranked offense, managed just 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting against Memphis. The Pacers shot a paltry 22-of-49 on two-point field goals in that loss—a troubling statistic for a team built on efficient scoring.

Defensive Concerns for Minnesota

Before Edwards' injury, Minnesota was already dealing with defensive issues early in the season. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch expressed frustration after their 128-110 loss to the Lakers, where Luka Doncic scored 49 points.

"Defense is certainly not where it needs to be," Finch said. "[We are] not dictating at the point of attack. There's no aggressiveness to it at all. The fly-around mentality behind it is just not quite there."

The Trail Blazers and Lakers combined to shoot 58.9% inside the three-point arc against Minnesota in their first two games—a concerning trend for a team that held opponents to 109.3 points per game last season, the fifth-stingiest mark in the NBA.

Looking Ahead

As the Pacers navigate this unprecedented injury crisis, questions mount about roster depth and long-term sustainability. The team may have caught a break with Edwards' early exit, but relying on opponent injuries is no strategy for success.

Indiana's medical staff faces a challenging evaluation period before Wednesday's game in Dallas. With minimal time for MRI scans and proper diagnosis, the Pacers may be forced to continue with their skeleton crew through multiple games.

For Minnesota, Edwards' hamstring tightness raises concerns about whether the franchise star was pushed too hard early in the season. The Timberwolves will anxiously await further evaluation to determine if this is a minor issue or something that could sideline their best player for an extended period.

Conclusion

Sunday night's matchup between the Pacers and Timberwolves evolved from a potential blowout into something far more competitive due to the injury epidemic affecting both teams. Indiana's remarkable injury list—featuring seven unavailable players—represents one of the most depleted rosters in recent NBA history, while Edwards' early exit robbed Minnesota of its offensive engine.

The situation underscores the brutal physical toll of an 82-game NBA season and the importance of organizational depth. For the Pacers, already coping with Haliburton's season-ending injury, this crisis tests every aspect of their championship aspirations. How they respond to this adversity may ultimately define their season far more than any single game result.