The Turning Point: A Tale of Two Halves
For twenty-four minutes, the Indiana Pacers looked like the team that captivated the league during their 2024 playoff run. Despite entering the game on a four-game losing streak and sitting at a dismal 6–22 on the season, Indiana torched the nets in the first half. They shot a blistering 60% (12-of-20) from three-point range, heading into the locker room with a dominant 61–43 lead.
However, the second half told a different story. The Pacers’ hot shooting vanished, with the team missing 19 of their 20 three-point attempts after the break. As the shots stopped falling, the poise started crumbling.
1. Carlisle’s Admission: “They Picked Up Their Physicality”
When asked how a 20-point cushion evaporated so quickly, Carlisle was blunt. He pointed to a shift in the game’s temperature—specifically following Joe Mazzulla’s bold decision to bench his starters early in the third quarter—that his squad simply couldn’t match.
“I thought they picked up their physicality; their bench became more of a factor in the second half,” Carlisle admitted. “We needed to keep attacking, and we didn’t do it enough. We held them to 103 points, which is a small win, but we’re trying to win basketball games.”
The admission highlights a recurring theme for the 2025-26 Pacers: a lack of “punch-back” when elite teams raise the intensity. While Pascal Siakam (25 points) and Andrew Nembhard (20 points) fought to keep the boat afloat, the absence of Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) has left a void in leadership and shot-creation that becomes glaringly obvious in high-pressure moments.
2. The “Dangerous” Play: A Call to the League
The most fire in Carlisle’s post-game presser wasn’t directed at his players, but at the officiating and a specific sequence involving Boston’s Neemias Queta and Indiana’s Isaiah Jackson.
Jackson, who has been a bright spot for the Pacers’ frontcourt, was forced out of the game just minutes into the first quarter. Carlisle’s “admission” here was one of deep concern for player safety, urging the NBA to review the tape.
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The Incident: Carlisle noted that Jackson was elbowed twice by Queta in a single sequence around the 4:30 mark of the first quarter.
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The Quote: “I hope the league looks at that. That was a play that I felt should have been looked at in real time. It did not appear to be accidental and it’s very dangerous.”
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The Impact: With Jackson now in concussion protocol and the injury described as “pretty serious,” a Pacers team already decimated by injuries loses another vital rotation piece.
3. A Milestone Deferred
The loss wasn’t just another tally in the “L” column; it was a personal setback for Carlisle, who remains stuck at 999 career wins. The veteran coach was poised to become just the 11th head coach in NBA history to reach the 1,000-win plateau in the city where he spent much of his playing career.
Instead of a celebration, Carlisle was left reflecting on a fifth straight loss. He noted that while the team is “going through things that are difficult,” he believes these trials are “going to strengthen us” in the long run.
What’s Next for the Pacers?
The road doesn’t get easier. As the Pacers fall to 6–23, the focus shifts from “playoff contention” to “survival and development.” Carlisle’s admission that the team stopped attacking serves as a challenge to the remaining healthy roster.
The Pacers will look to finally get Carlisle his 1,000th win as they head home to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, but they’ll have to do it with the weight of a monumental collapse hanging over their heads.
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