The Indiana Pacers picked up right where they left off last season: with another injury scare. As if seeing Tyrese Haliburton crying in pain after hitting the hardwood in the first quarter of Game 7 wasn’t alarming enough, veteran guard Delon Wright added to the concern after being involved in a frightening mid-court collision. He was forced out of the game, and now the reports do not seem any better.

Dr. Nowinski, a renowned neuroscientist and concussion expert, took to X to share how bad the impact can be. “Delon Wright with a brutal traumatic brain injury here,” Nowinski wrote. He then added, “Note the double impact – he’s unconscious after the head-to-head hit, so he can’t protect himself on the fall and took a second hit from the hard floor.”

Wright was dribbling near half-court when Minnesota’s Jaylen Clark rushed in from his blind side for a steal. As Wright turned his head, the two players collided head-to-head with violent force. Wright was knocked unconscious for a brief moment before falling to the court and hitting his head a second time on the hardwood. He remained down on the floor, bleeding from a cut above his eye, and needed help to walk to the locker room.

Wright’s status is now day-to-day as he undergoes evaluation. The incident occurred just moments after primary backup point guard T.J. McConnell also left the contest during the Tuesday matchup against Minnesota with a sore left hamstring. This double blow exacerbates a backcourt crisis for a team already missing its superstar, Tyrese Haliburton, for the entire season due to an Achilles tear.

The team is already dangerously thin with Haliburton out long-term and McConnell’s return timeline uncertain. This leaves Andrew Nembhard and two-way player Quenton Jackson as the only healthy ball handlers. This scary event underscores a much larger problem for the Pacers, transforming last season’s finalists into a team full of injuries and broken with uncertainties. On that note, a closer look at the Pacers’ situation.

Injury storm hits Indiana Pacers as Jarace Walker’s return offers hope

The recent injuries have created an unprecedented crisis for the team. Tyrese Haliburton was already out, and now his primary backup, T.J. McConnell, who led all reserves in the NBA with 434 assists and 120 steals off the bench, is now questionable for the start of the year with a sore left hamstring. The emergency depth option, Delon Wright, is day-to-day with a head injury, and rookie Kam Jones is out for at least two to three weeks with a back issue.

The list of wounded players continues with shooting guard Ben Sheppard, who is currently day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. This collection of ailments means the Pacers are currently managing more than 5 significant injuries across their roster. The team’s training staff is dealing with a complex mix of season-ending surgeries, long-term rehab projects, and acute short-term problems.

But there are some positives to look into for the Indiana Pacers. Jarace Walker had to sit out in the most crucial stage of the 2025 finals. But after missing the Pacers’ NBA Finals run due to an ankle injury suffered in last season’s Eastern Conference Finals, Walker has returned to full strength. With no restrictions in training camp or the preseason opener, head coach Rick Carlisle is counting on him to step up amid Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles’ absence.

Can the Indiana Pacers carry forward their momentum, or will injuries dent their luck early in the season? The preseason performance says they can bear this storm, but for how long, that remains an open area for guess.