Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was not pleased with the officiating during his team’s 130-121 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday.
“Small-market teams deserve an equal shot,” he told reporters when discussing the officiating. “We deserve a fair shot no matter where they’re playing.”
He also said the Pacers believed 29 plays were called incorrectly during their Game 1 loss on Monday but decided not to submit them to the NBA.
Those plans are changing for Game 2, especially after the head coach was ejected near the end.
“We’re gonna submit these calls tonight. New York, get ready, you’re going to see them,” Carlisle said. “We deserve a fair shot… there’s not a consistent balance, that’s disappointing.”
The Knicks are a physical team, which Carlisle pointed out. He also said Indiana’s physicality is getting punished with whistles far more often than New York’s in this series.
Still, the Knicks’ 22-17 free-throw advantage in Game 2 wasn’t exactly a particularly significant one. Plus, Indiana had a double-digit lead and failed to capitalize even though the home team was without OG Anunoby for the fourth quarter after he was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Then there was Jalen Brunson, who spent much of the first half in the locker room with a sore right foot. Even with those injuries, the Pacers lost by nine points with a final deficit that suggests the outcome didn’t come down to one or two calls.
Yet this may be lingering frustration from Game 1, which was determined in part by poor officiating.
The NBA’s last-two-minute report from that contest revealed the officials mistakenly whistled Aaron Nesmith for a kicked ball violation in the final minute with the game tied. Indiana appeared to have forced a turnover and potential opportunity to take the lead, but the Knicks got to keep possession.
And Donte DiVincenzo drilled a three-pointer that put his team ahead for good on that possession.
Referee Zach Zarba admitted it was a mistake, but kicked ball violations are not reviewable.
Officiating was more of a storyline after Game 1 than Game 2, but Carlisle still wasn’t happy after the latest outcome.
Daniel Miller is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. His coverage spans from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis for sports enthusiasts.
