NBA gambling investigation explained | 03:39
Amid a worrisome betting scandal that has brought the league into disrepute, it’d be fair to say the start of the new NBA season has been tense.
And while Rick Carlisle’s only major concern was trying to guide his Indiana Pacers over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Friday’s (AEDT) Finals rematch, not even an ESPN cameraperson could escape the head coach’s warpath.
At half-time in Indianapolis, Carlisle attempted to make his way to the locker room with his players but was being very closely trailed by the cameraperson — too closely, judging by Carlisle’s reaction, which was captured on the broadcast before the cutaway.
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Carlisle’s words couldn’t be heard, but the 65-year-old was visibly animated in showing his displeasure with the treatment.
The Pacers coach had already been irate in the waning moments of the first half, clearly frustrated with the officiating as his squad trailed by seven points at the halfway point at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The bigger-picture storyline of the night was the Thunder surviving double-overtime for the second-straight game to begin the season, after opening their campaign with a one-point win over Houston two nights ago, beating the Pacers 141-135 in six periods.
The reigning champions’ triumph was fuelled by last season’s MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who poured in a career-high 55 points and added eight rebounds and five assists to devastate the hosts.
Indiana forward Pascal Siakam — who scored 32 points in the night — put Oklahoma City beanpole Chet Holmgren on skates and sunk a mid-range jumper to tie the scores at 113 at the end of regulation.
The teams scored 11 points apiece in the first overtime period, before the Thunder put on the afterburners and outscored the Pacers 17-11 in double OT.
Gilgeous-Alexander was assisted by second-year guard Ajay Mitchell, who broke out for 26 points in 38 minutes.
Meanwhile, Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin scored 36 points to be Siakam’s running mate scorer in the long-term absence of Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles).