Injury-plagued Pacers head to Wolves for Minnesota home opener

MINNEAPOLIS — The injury-depleted Indiana Pacers will try to salvage their early-season skid Sunday when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves for Minnesota's home opener at the Target Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern. Indiana entered 0-2 after a pair of close and not-so-close losses, while Minnesota is 1-1.

Indiana’s availability issues are extensive and have shaped the matchup. Guard Bennedict Mathurin was ruled out Sunday with a right great toe sprain sustained in Friday’s loss to Memphis. All-Star Tyrese Haliburton remains sidelined for the season as he recovers from a torn Achilles. The Pacers also listed Andrew Nembhard (shoulder), T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Quenton Jackson (hamstring), Johnny Furphy (foot), Taelon Peter (groin) and Kam Jones among players out or day-to-day. The team had not released a full official report for Sunday as of early game day, but coaching decisions are expected to rely heavily on Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith for scoring and on James Wiseman to anchor the frontcourt.

Minnesota arrives with a shorter injury list. Rookie guard Rob Dillingham is questionable after sustaining a nasal fracture in the preseason, but the Timberwolves...