NBA Notes: Bucks, Myles Turner, Heat, Pelle Larsson, Pacers

Bucks

After losing 10 of their last 12 games, the Bucks finally had a chance to breathe.

Four full days between games gave Milwaukee time to reset and figure out how to navigate the Eastern Conference playoff race without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who remains out with a calf strain.

Veteran center Myles Turner insisted the season is far from slipping away.

“We are only five and a half games away from the third seed, so I don’t think it’s time to panic. I think it’s time to be aware,” Turner said, via The Athletic’s Eric Nehm. “We are not where we want to be, but we are also not far away.”

Finding ways to unlock more from Turner may be a key piece of the reset. His 12.6 points per game mark his lowest scoring average in five seasons, and the Bucks will need more interior production to stay afloat.

Nehm also pointed to Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins as important figures while Giannis heals. Porter has been especially hot, averaging 27 points on elite efficiency over his last four outings.

Milwaukee hosts Boston on Thursday in one of its more important checkpoints of the month.

Heat

The Heat expect to be without Pelle Larsson for at least the next week or two after the second-year swingman sprained his left ankle on Tuesday.

An MRI confirmed the injury but ruled out anything more significant, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.

Larsson has carved out a larger role this season with averages of 8.7 points, 3.2 assists and 2.5 rebounds in nearly 22 minutes per game. His workload has fluctuated depending on the health of Tyler Herro and Norman Powell, so Miami may be able to absorb this short-term loss as long as its regular rotation holds up.

Simone Fontecchio and Keshad Johnson are among the candidates for expanded minutes if needed. Miami plays only once in the next week after being eliminated from the NBA Cup, so Larsson may not end up missing many games at all.

Pacers

The Pacers continue to evaluate long-term center options and have expressed interest in Clippers big man Ivica Zubac, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Indiana recently reached out to Los Angeles to check on his availability.

Indiana has been rotating Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff and Tony Bradley after losing Myles Turner to Milwaukee in free agency. The front office is monitoring several potential upgrades, including Mavericks center Daniel Gafford, per The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer.

Zubac and Gafford are both signed to multi-year deals in the $18-$20 million range, which fits well alongside Indiana’s max commitments to Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. The Pacers also hold all of their future firsts and have trade pieces such as Obi Toppin, Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker to match salary.

There is no guarantee the Clippers will entertain offers. Zubac is coming off an All-Defensive season, and early indications are that L.A. is reluctant to move him.

Still, rival executives believe the Clippers, sitting at 6-18, would at least listen if multiple first-round picks entered the conversation.