Granger’s Debut Will Wait

Danny Granger’s much-anticipated return will have to wait another week. There was a chance that he would make his regular-season debut tonight when the Pacers host the Charlotte Bobcats, but he’s been ruled out because of flu-like symptoms.

Granger practiced on Tuesday and showed no signs of favoring his right knee. Coach Frank Vogel said Granger’s knee responded well to additional court time but added that “he probably wouldn’t be quite ready yet, even if he wasn’t sick.”

On Sunday, before Granger had symptoms of the flu, Vogel said “it’s more than likely that he’ll play after the All-Star break.” Now, it’s their hope that he’ll be available to suit up in exactly one week, when the Pacers host the New York Knicks.

Another player of concern is David West, who had his left eye scratched in the first minute of Monday’s game by Brooklyn Nets forward Brook Lopez. West returned in the second half but played with basically one eye, according to Vogel. After the game, West left the locker room without speaking to the media.

“His eye is still not in very good shape,” Vogel said after shootaround, noting that West is a game-time decision tonight. “I saw him this morning and he could barely open it.”

If West, who hasn’t participated in on-court activities since since Monday’s game, can’t see well enough to play, Vogel will keep everyone else in their normal slots and start Jeff Pendergraph.

“Oh yeah, I think he’s ready,” Vogel said of Pendergraph. “He’s a good basketball player. Every opportunity he’s gotten so far he’s done great, so I wouldn’t expect anything different.”