Nate Taylor

IndyStar

UPDATE (March 15, 5:30 p.m.): The Pacers have announced that Ty Lawson will not play tonight.

PREVIOUS: Ty Lawson feels the pressure to play, the pressure to help the Indiana Pacers, the pressure to get off the team’s injury report. Those were the sentiments Lawson voiced after the Pacers’ shootaround Tuesday morning.

Yet, Lawson still feels soreness in his left foot. That sensation, which Lawson has felt for more than a week since injuring it in his debut with the Pacers, is what could keep him from playing against the Boston Celtics. The Pacers have listed him as questionable with a sprained foot, but Lawson said his foot felt sore after the team’s session to prepare for the Celtics.

“I played a little bit yesterday,” Lawson said, even though the team did not practice Monday. “I worked out and it just got sore again. That’s the only thing. I don’t know what exactly it is. I might get another check on it.”

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All the Pacers can do is monitor Lawson’s foot and his tolerance to play through the pain. Coach Frank Vogel said he is hopeful that Lawson can play a few minutes against the Celtics, but also wants to be cautious to not aggravate the injury.

Lawson missed the Pacers’ last two games, a win over the Dallas Mavericks and a blowout loss to the Atlanta Hawks, but he did travel with the team to gain more knowledge of Vogel’s system and the chemistry in the locker room.

“I think the guys have embraced him and they know what he’s capable of once he gets healthy,” Vogel said. He added of Lawson’s health status: “I think he’s getting a little further each day. We’ll see how he is in pregame tonight.”

Lawson, 28, made his Pacers debut last week against the San Antonio Spurs just hours after he signed with the team. In five minutes, he recorded two assists and one rebound. His only shot attempt cut his debut shorter than the Pacers or Lawson wanted.

On Lawson’s driving layup, David West, the former Pacer, blocked the shot and Lawson sustained his injury when he landed awkwardly on West’s foot.



After the game, Lawson had four days to rest. He did participate in Friday’s practice, but Vogel removed him before the team finished because of soreness in the foot.

“I’m not feeling pressured by the team, but I’m putting pressure on myself,” Lawson said. “I’m eager to get out there and just play. You get a chance to play and the first five minutes I get hurt. I’m pushing myself to get back. I might have pushed it too much yesterday. Maybe I should have waited until today to push it in the game and be sore tomorrow.”

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Lawson’s new teammates have been supportive. They have encouraged him to take necessary time to return to the court healthy.

On his first road trip with the Pacers, Lawson spent most of his time with George Hill, Paul George, Monta Ellis and rookie Joe Young. Lawson said he enjoyed the team’s environment on the road. He sat near those four teammates on the plane talked and played games to build camaraderie.

He particularly enjoyed his time with Ellis.

“He’s so country, man,” Lawson said. “He’s probably the countriest person I’ve ever met in my life. I’ve always heard good things about him.”

As for Tuesday’s game, Lawson wants to be on the court with his teammates. He has a plan for his foot.

“I’m going to ice it, take some medicine and see if I can play tonight,” he said.

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Injury report

The Pacers have listed C.J. Miles as questionable with an upper respiratory infection. Miles is the third player this season to have a respiratory infection. Hill missed three games in November. George had his infection in December and struggled shooting the ball in the second half of the month. Miles played in the Pacers’ last two games after missing nine games because of a strained left calf.

Hill is probable with a sore right toe.

Call Star reporter Nate Taylor at (317) 444-6484. Follow him on Twitter: @ByNateTaylor.

Celtics at Pacers, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Fox Sports Midwest

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Ty Lawson joins Pacers, leaves first game with injury