ESPN will be without its top sideline reporter for Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Saturday night.
Lisa Salters, who is part of the network's top NBA broadcasting crew along with play-by-play man Mike Breen and analysts Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson, will not be working tonight's game between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Jorge Sedano will replace Salters. According to ESPN PR, through Front Office Sports' Ryan Glasspiegel, Salters is dealing with "a personal matter."
"We send her our best," ESPN said.
No further information has been made available, which isn't surprising given that it's a personal issue. We're hoping Salters is not dealing with anything too serious, and we also wish her the best.
It should be noted that her longtime partner, Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White, also missed practice and a game this weekend for personal reasons, so perhaps the two are dealing with a family matter.
Salters has been at ESPN since 2000. During that time, she's served as a sideline reporter for Monday Night Football and other NFL assignment, in addition to the NBA.
Salters, who won a Sports Emmy in 2023, was also the sideline reporter for ABC's Saturday Night Football college football from 2006-10 and has drawn acclaim for her general assignment reporting as well.
Game 2 between the Pacers and Thunder is set for 8 p.m. ET tonight on ABC. Indiana stole Game 1 Thursday night with yet another remarkable playoff comeback, rallying from down 14 in the fourth quarter to win on star point guard Tyrese Haliburton's jump shot with 0.3 seconds remaining.
Oklahoma City will aim to even the series tonight. It's essentially a must-win for the favored Thunder, as teams that lose the first two games of a postseason series at home typically don't fare well.
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