Ivica Zubac doubtful for Pacers' Monday game against Milwaukee after suffering ankle injury - What we know so far

The Indiana Pacers left Brooklyn with a convincing win Sunday, but Ivica Zubac’s ankle injury gave them something else to worry about before Monday’s trip to Milwaukee Bucks. The center exited early against the Nets and later reportedly left the arena on crutches, according to HoopsHype. However, there was encouraging news afterward as coach Rick Carlisle said X-rays came back negative for fracture. Still, swelling in Zubac’s left ankle makes a quick return unlikely. With the Bucks awaiting Pacers on Monday night, Indiana faces an immediate lineup question while fans wait for a clearer picture of how long Zubac could miss.

HOW DID IVICA ZUBAC INJURE HIS ANKLE?

Zubac suffered a sprain in his left ankle after stepping on teammate Kelly Oubre’s foot in the first quarter with just over five minutes left. Zubac continued for quite some time but then later asked to be substituted after he started limping, heading to the locker room. Zubac ended the game playing only seven minutes and having two points, two assists, and a single rebound to his name. Indiana went on to win the game 136-109 against Brooklyn.

"He's got some swelling," Carlisle said in his post-game press conference as quoted by Yahoo Sports. "It's pretty unlikely he'll play tomorrow night, but we'll see. Hopefully it will be a day-to-day thing, but you never know. Maybe he'll feel a lot better in the morning. It's hard to say. You never know but it's probably unlikely. I talked to him after the game and he said, I'll be alright."

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE PACERS AGAINST MILWAUKEE?

The timing gives Indiana little breathing room. Zubac suffered the injury Sunday, with the Milwaukee matchup scheduled for Monday, October 26. Even with the reassuring imaging update, Carlisle’s comments suggest the Pacers are preparing for the possibility of playing without him.

Jay Huff, Obi Toppin and Larry Nance Jr. have been reportedly identified as players who could take on additional responsibility during Zubac’s absence. How Carlisle distributes those minutes remains another question heading into the game.

As of now, the available updates offer no firm return date beyond the concern about Monday. Neither negative X-rays nor the sight of crutches establishes how many games Zubac might ultimately miss.

The next major development will be his game status and any additional information from Indiana. In the meantime, however, the most important thing to know is simple: while the initial tests were somewhat comforting, the swollen ankle and quick turnaround make his availability doubtful.