When a team loses on a buzzer-beating play, there is always something to nitpick. However, in Wednesday's ESPN-broadcasted match between the Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Lakers, a glaring mistake demanded an explanation. Rick Carlisle explained his controversial decision in the Pacers' 120-119 loss to the Lakers.
Before Lakers' LeBron James hit the game-winning, buzzer-beating, tip-in to steal the win from the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton went on a personal 5-0 scoring run in the final minutes of the contest.
However, likely for defensive purposes, Carlisle subbed in Jarace Walker to replace Haliburton.
The Pacers' offensive last possession appeared as the losing play for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. At the top of the key, Indiana's physical wing Bennedict Mathurin received a double-team with the last second in the shot clock and attempted a step-back, double-pump, 3-point shot. Such a shot ended with a Lakers fastbreak and a game-winning tip-in from James.
Meanwhile, the Pacers star responsible for catapulting his team to a possible six-game winning streak watched in agony from the sidelines, as his team failed to draw up an adequate play to seal the deal.
After the game, Carlisle explained his decision to the media after being asked if he considered taking a timeout on the Pacers' final offensive possession.
"Considered it, and looking at it now, certainly would have been the thing to do given the result, Carlisle said. "But there was a nine or 10-second difference, and had we scored, they would have probably run it back at us. That group had a good run in the fourth, so I just decided to stay with it... The thing that also was a big factor was we had a foul to give."
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The Pacers' loss was flawed in two ways: Haliburton didn't get to attempt a shot or even enter the game after putting his team in a position to beat the Lakers, and they also failed to foul despite having one to give.
Haliburton recorded 16 points and 18 assists, indicating he had his hands all over the game. Having the Pacers' star and near-savior of the game sidelined in such a clutch sequence makes for quite a difficult conversation.
Carlisle said, "Everyone was on the sideline yelling' to foul the Lakers before the James game-winning play, but even so, the Pacers failed to execute. Such a loss evokes the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, when the Pacers lost multiple games due to mistakes in the contest's final minutes.
To genuinely compete for a championship, the Pacers must execute in the precious moments of close contests. Perhaps next time, Carlisle will take a risk and put one of his best players in the game for when they need a basket.
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This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 8:38 AM.