The Indiana Pacers will open up preseason play without Thad Young in his usual starting forward spot when they visit the Houston Rockets on Thursday.
Young has been bothered throughout training camp by a bone bruise on his right foot, which has kept his activity to a minimum. With Thad sidelined, T.J. Leaf will get the starting nod along with a big opportunity to show off his development from his rookie year and Summer League.
Leaf will join the usual starting group of Darren Collison, Victor Oladipo, Bojan Bogdanovic and Mylers Turner.