Indiana Pacers rookie Chris Duarte will reportedly miss the final three games of the season due to a nagging left big toe injury, according to Scott Agness of the Fieldhouse Files.
Duarte initially suffered the injury on Feb. 13 in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was held out of playing in the Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend and has appeared in only five games with the Pacers since the break.
The 13th pick would eventually aggravate the injury again and has not played since March 15, missing the past nine games. With the year winding down, the team will hold him out of the lineup to ensure he is healthy heading into the offseason.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said on April 1 that Duarte may not play again.
His toe is doing better all of the time. Toes are difficult. They are in an area of the body where there is not a lot of circulation and big toe injuries linger. I would say it is unlikely we’ll see him the rest of the way but not impossible.
Duarte emerged as one of the top first-year players this year, averaging 13.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He was the ninth player in team history to be selected for the Rising Stars game and the first since Domantas Sabonis in 2018.
The 24-year-old will likely be in contention to earn NBA All-Rookie honors this season. He ranks seventh in scoring and field goals among all first-year players and is fourth in 3-pointers.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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