Mahinmi knocked out of Pacers' loss to Bulls with sore knee

Indiana Pacers center Ian Mahinmi left Wednesday's 102-100 overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls with a sore left knee and did not return.

The Frenchman missed a game earlier this season with a back issue, but had started every game since, averaging 8.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in just over 24 minutes per contest.

A career backup until this season, the 29-year-old Mahinmi has been thrust into Indiana's starting five spot with the dearth of traditional big men on the Pacers' roster. He leads the team in blocks at a career-high 1.1 per game.