Pacers Myles Turner out of Saturday's game with back soreness

ATLANTA -- Pacers center Myles Turner will sit out Saturday's game against the Hawks at State Farm Area with lower back soreness, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said in pre-game. However, point guard Tyrese Haliburton, rookie guard Bennedict Mathurin and guard Chris Duarte will all be available, Carlisle said.

The Pacers had less than a 24-hour turnaround on this road back-to-back, playing the Celtics at 7 p.m. Friday night before taking on the Hawks at 5 p.m. Saturday. Turner has been dealing with back soreness most of the year, especially since it locked up with spasms on Jan. 11 in New York, so it makes sense to give him the day off. Turner scored 20 points on 9 of 13 shooting in the Pacers' 120-95 loss to the Celtics on Friday night and is averaging career highs in scoring (18.0 ppg) and rebounding (7.4 rpg) and shooting a career-best 54.8% from the floor.

With Turner out, the time at center will most likely be split between young big men Jalen Smith and Isaiah Jackson, both of whom have seen their minutes increase in recent weeks. Smith is averaging 9.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while Jackson is averaging 6.9 points and 4.2 rebounds. Jackson was announced as the starter in Turner's place.

Duarte would be available for the first time since March 13 when he injured the same ankle he injured in November that caused him to miss six weeks.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers vs. Hawks: Myles Turner out with back soreness