Almost half of the Indiana Pacers on the opening-night roster have missed time due to injury. Are they eligible for an NBA hardship exception?

This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/mavericks as Will Mavericks stars Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg play against battered Pacers?.

Making matters worse is the fact that two of Indiana’s key players for this year, Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin, have both already gone down with injury, and on Tuesday, the team got an update on both players that wasn’t exactly encouraging.

The Indiana Pacers signed guard Mac McClung on Tuesday following a rash of early season injuries. Terms of the deal were not immediately available. McClung won each of the past three NBA Slam Dunk contests.

The last of five straight home games to start the season for the Mavs; can they beat the Eastern Conference champions?

His status for the upcoming matchup is listed as probable with bilateral Achilles tendinopathy. Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News confirmed the development on Tuesday. “Mavs star Anthony Davis is probable for tomorrow’s game vs. the Pacers due to bilateral Achilles tendinopathy,” he reported on X.

The Indiana Pacers are signing three-time NBA dunk champion Mac McClung to a multiyear contract, according to ESPN. This marks the first standard NBA contract McClung has signed. The Pacers will reportedly waive former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman to create room on roster.

The NBA Dunk Contest isn't the most exciting event in the world, as it is rare for any of the NBA's superstar players to participate these days. However, it doe