Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle expressed frustration with the officiating in their 130-121 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their second-round NBA playoff series. He believes small-market teams like the Pacers deserve a fair shot and equal treatment from referees.
“We deserve a fair shot… there’s not a consistent balance, that’s disappointing,” Carlisle said, adding that the team will submit 29 plays from Game 2 for review, which they didn’t do after Game 1. This move indicates a growing discontent with the officiating in the series.
Carlisle noted that the Knicks are a physical team, but Indiana’s physicality is being punished more frequently. He pointed out that the Pacers are being called for fouls more often than the Knicks despite both teams playing with similar intensity.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Rick Carlisle, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks Updates
However, the free-throw advantage (22-17) in Game 2 wasn’t significant, and the Pacers had a double-digit lead but failed to capitalize. Despite injuries to OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson, the Pacers lost by nine points, suggesting the outcome wasn’t solely due to officiating.
Still, Carlisle may still be frustrated from Game 1, where poor officiating contributed to the outcome. The NBA’s last-two-minute report revealed a mistake by officials, who incorrectly called a kicked ball violation on Aaron Nesmith, leading to a crucial three-pointer by Donte DiVincenzo. Referee Zach Zarba admitted the error, but kicked-ball violations are not reviewable.
While officiating was more of an issue in Game 1, Carlisle remains unhappy with his team’s treatment, highlighting the perceived disparity between large and small-market teams in the NBA. “Small-market teams deserve an equal shot,” he emphasized.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Rick Carlisle, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks Updates
The Pacers’ loss in Game 2 was a missed opportunity, as they had a chance to even the series but couldn’t close out the game. Carlisle’s frustration with the officiating is understandable, given the high stakes of the playoffs. The team will need to regroup and refocus for Game 3, hoping to get a fairer shake from the referees.
The series continues with Game 3 in Indiana, where the Pacers will look to regain momentum and even the series. The officiating will be under scrutiny, as the Pacers seek a fairer outcome. As Carlisle said, “We deserve a fair shot,” and the team will be hoping to get just that in Game 3.
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