Roy Hibbert Out Tonight Against Mavericks

The Indiana Pacers will be playing without big man Roy Hibbert tonight against the Dallas Mavericks.

Roy Hibbert has been the Indiana Pacers’ heart and soul so far this season, and has stepped up in a big way from last year. He has been putting up consistent numbers nearly every night, but he has dealt with some bumps and bruises so far this year as well. The Pacers will be forced to play without Hibbert tonight on the road against the Dallas Mavericks due to a sprained ankle that he suffered against the Phoenix Suns.

Needless to say, the Pacers are not even close to as good of a team without Hibbert on the floor and he will be missed in a big way against a strong Dallas team. They are a very high-powered offensive machine, and Ian Mahinmi simply isn’t the defensive threat that Hibbert is for the Pacers. He’ll be able to defend the rim somewhat, but he simply won’t be able to do the type of job that Hibbert would have.

Through his first 13 games this season, Hibbert has averaged 13.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. Those numbers show just how important he has been for Indiana, and that production will be missed tonight in Dallas. He has made a concerted effort to be positive and encouraging to his teammates, and he has been very happy with the amount of touches that he has been receiving.

Indiana has been a major surprise to the NBA this season, and are playing much higher than the expectations that were set for them. They are hoping that David West, George Hill, and the rest of the injured players on their roster can return in the near future. There is a definite chance of making the playoffs this year, but they need Hibbert to stay healthy and the rest of his supporting cast on the floor as well.