Healthy Hansbrough to make Pacers debut
November 6, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—Indiana Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough(notes) will make his prodebut Friday night against Washington after missing the preseason and fourregular-season games with a right shin injury.
Coach Jim O’Brien said the team’s first-round pick from North Carolina willbe a reserve, and the plan is to play him for about 16 minutes.
Hansbrough led North Carolina to the national championship last season. ThePacers need him because starting power forward Troy Murphy(notes) is out with a bruisedlower back.
Danny Granger(notes) will move from small forward to Murphy’s spot at powerforward, and Dahntay Jones(notes) will start at small forward in Granger’s place.
Mike Dunleavy (knee), Travis Diener(notes) (toe on left foot) and Jeff Foster(notes) (sorelower back) also are out for the Pacers.