Chris Duarte upgraded to questionable for Indiana Pacers after G League rehab assignment

The Indiana Pacers tackle the New York Knicks on Sunday, and there’s a likelihood that younger wing Chris Duarte might be lively for the primary time in 44 days.

On November 4, Duarte landed awkwardly defending a layup towards the Miami Warmth and badly sprained his ankle. It has held him out for the six-plus weeks since, although he has ramped up his exercise degree steadily.

Through the ongoing week, the thirteenth general decide within the 2021 NBA Draft was assigned to the Pacers G League affiliate crew, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, for a rehab project. He practiced a number of occasions with the Mad Ants and performed in two video games towards the Wisconsin Herd.

“He did properly,” Carlisle stated of Duarte’s first apply with Fort Wayne. Within the two G League video games, the 25-year outdated wing averaged 17.5 factors, 4.0 rebounds, and a pair of.5 assists per sport. The Mad Ants received each nights.

Duarte was transferring properly within the two video games and attacked when given self-creation alternatives. He regarded nice in the course of the second half of the primary sport he performed in, scoring 12 factors within the ultimate two quarters that night time.

The Pacers have shocked many this yr and are at the moment 15-15 after 30 video games, but their defensive ranking continues to be higher with Duarte on the courtroom than off. They’ve missed the 2022 All-Rookie second crew member on that finish of the ground, and his offense was simply rounding into kind earlier than his ankle damage — he averaged 12.4 factors per sport in his ultimate 5 outings previous to falling to the ground towards the Warmth.

On the season, Duarte is averaging 8.9 factors, 1.7 rebounds, and a pair of.1 assists per sport. His return may assist the Pacers each by way of on-court play and improvement — Duarte himself wants time on the courtroom to develop as a participant and get reps with different proficient Pacers kids. If he returns as we speak, that might begin taking place quickly.

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