Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was notably reserved about discussing the details of Game 3’s narrow 114-111 defeat to the Boston Celtics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pacers, who once led by 18 points and had an eight-point advantage with just two-and-a-half minutes left, ultimately fell to the Celtics following a dramatic 13-2 run by Boston to close the game. The crucial moment came when the Celtics’ Jrue Holiday intercepted a pass from the Pacers’ Andrew Nembhard in the dying seconds, sealing the win for Boston.
During the postgame press conference, a reporter began to question Carlisle about the final stretch of the game, to which Carlisle sharply replied, “I just watched the ending so you don’t need to remind me. I saw everything that happened. Everything.”
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Criticism has mounted against Carlisle, particularly regarding his decision not to call a timeout during the pivotal moments when Nembhard was handling the ball.
Now trailing 0-3 in the Eastern Conference finals, the Pacers are on the brink of elimination.
The team’s prospects are further clouded by the uncertainty of star player Tyrese Haliburton’s availability due to a hamstring strain he suffered, leaving his participation in doubt for Monday’s game.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Carlisle remained optimistic about his team’s resilience and the support they receive at home. “We got the best fans in the NBA here, we’ve got the greatest basketball building on the planet, and we’ve got another game in front of [Pacers fans] to go after these guys,” Carlisle stated. “And believe me when I tell you we are going after them.”
