Indiana’s All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis returns to the NBA campus in Orlando today.
But not to try and pull the Pacers out of an 0-3 hole. He is just there as support.
Sabonis left the NBA bubble “to receive medical treatment for plantar fasciitis in his left foot,” the team announced a month ago. While the Pacers left the door open to his return, the best cure for plantar fasciitis is rest and time off the foot.
Sabonis will return to the bubble Saturday, coach Nate McMillan said on a local broadcast.
Nate McMillan confirms on @FSIndiana pregame show that Domantas Sabonis is scheduled to return to the bubble today and will enter quarantine for “a few days."
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) August 22, 2020
Indiana could use him. Sabonis averaged 18.5 points and 12.4 rebounds a game this season for the Pacers and was named to his first All-Star team.
Except he is just there as moral support, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
It isn't believed Indiana All-Star F/C Domantas Sabonis has been able to engage in basketball activity for past 6 weeks rehabbing plantar fasciitis and sources say there’s no expectation he'll rejoin active roster should Pacers still be alive once he clears quarantine this week.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 22, 2020
The Pacers are down 0-3 to the Miami Heat. If Sabonis tested negative every day he was outside the bubble, he would still face a four-day quarantine starting today, meaning he would miss Game 4 of the series as well.
The Pacers could be eliminated by the time he could be on the bench.
Still, Domantas Sabonis returns, and that’s a good sign for the Pacers’ chemistry.
