Pacers Face Bucks on Monday Night Without Injured Center Ivica Zubac

The Indiana Pacers will look to secure a road victory against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night at the Fiserv Forum, though they will have to do so without starting center Ivica Zubac. The matchup marks the second night of a back-to-back for Indiana, which is coming off a dominant 136-109 victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night.

Zubac was officially ruled out of the contest after suffering a left ankle sprain during Sunday's game. The center sustained the injury while chasing a rebound and stepping on the foot of Brooklyn's Kelly Oubre Jr. Although X-rays taken after the game came back negative, Zubac is dealing with swelling and left the arena on crutches. Head coach Rick Carlisle and the team opted not to rush him back on short rest.

The absence of Zubac deals a notable blow to an Indiana rotation that is already managing several early-season injuries. Andrew Nembhard is sidelined with neck stiffness, while guard depth remains thin with T.J. McConnell and Ben Sheppard still unavailable. Despite these setbacks, star guard Tyrese Haliburton has confirmed he will play through the back-to-back following his return from a torn Achilles.

With Zubac unavailable, the Pacers will likely turn to Jay Huff to anchor the starting center position, or potentially utilize Obi Toppin in a smaller lineup configuration. Huff performed well in relief during Sunday's win over Brooklyn, contributing 14 points, two rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in 21 minutes of action. Indiana enters the contest with a 2-1 record, leaning heavily on an offense that ranks eighth in the league in offensive rating.

On the other side, the Milwaukee Bucks are searching for their first win of the 2026-27 campaign after starting the year 0-3 with losses to Washington, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Following an offseason trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, the Bucks are rebuilding around a mix of young talent and veterans like Tyler Herro and former Pacers center Myles Turner. Milwaukee has struggled defensively, allowing a league-high 129.0 points per game through their first three outings.

Despite being short-handed and playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Pacers are installed as favorites heading into Monday's matchup. Haliburton has continued to excel as a playmaker, averaging 9.7 assists per game and recording 10 dimes in Sunday's blowout win. Tipoff at the Fiserv Forum is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST, with television coverage available on DAZN, My24 Milwaukee, and NBA League Pass.