Pacers’ Delon Wright leaves pre-season win over Timberwovles early after brutal head collision with Jaylen Clark
Indiana Pacers guard Delon Wright left Tuesday’s preseason win over the Minnesota Timberwolves early after taking a hard hit to the head.
In the second quarter of the preseason matchup at Target Center, Wright was dribbling near the half-court line when Timberwolves forward Jaylen Clark pushed forward to try to steal the ball from behind. Wright didn’t see Clark coming until it was too late and turned his head at the worst moment.
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Clark’s head collided directly with Wright’s side as he turned left, and Wright was sent to the field. Clark remained standing and was called for a foul on the play.
Wright stayed down for a while, but eventually got help and walked off the floor into the locker room. He did not return and the Pacers quickly ruled him out of the remainder of the game with a head injury. Further details are not yet known.
Wright had two points in four minutes when he left the contest. The 33-year-old has bounced around throughout his big league career. After the Toronto Raptors selected him with the No. 1 overall pick. 20 in Utah in 2015, spent time with the Grizzlies, Mavericks, Pistons, Kings, Hawks, Wizards, Heat, Bucks and Knicks before landing with the Pacers on a training contract. He is looking to battle for the last spot on their roster this season. If successful, they would mark the sixth team he has played for in the past four seasons.
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Clark was eventually ruled out even with neck spasms. He didn’t score, but he had a rebound and an assist in eight minutes. He averaged 4.1 points last season during his rookie campaign in Minnesota.
Rayj Dennis led the Pacers with 16 points off the bench in the 135-134 overtime victory. Pascal Siakam had 14 points and shot 3 of 5 from behind the arc in 14 minutes, and Aaron Nesmith had 12 points. Johnny Juzang led the Timberwolves with 20 points on six 3-pointers off the bench. Anthony Edwards had 17 points in 19 minutes in a loss.
The Pacers have three preseason games remaining before opening the season on Oct. 23 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Timberwolves have four more, including one against the Guangzhou Loong-Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association, before their season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 22.