The NBA fined Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle $35,000 for saying after Game 2 that the officiating was biased against his team. The league penalized Carlisle for “publicly criticizing officials and questioning the integrity of the league and its officials,” the NBA said in a statement Friday.
Carlisle spoke for two and a half minutes about the referees after the Game 2 loss that he said was officiated unevenly and biased against the Pacers. Indiana also had been on the wrong end of several calls in the final minute of its Game 1 loss.
The following was released by the NBA: pic.twitter.com/2vMpk29zX6
-NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 10, 2024
“Small market teams deserve an equal opportunity,” Carlisle said. “They deserve a fair chance. It doesn’t matter where they play.
He also pointed out a play midway through the third quarter where star point guard Tyrese Haliburton appeared to be pushed into the back in transition by Knicks wing Josh Hart and called out referee JB DeRosa by name. There was no call.
“I always tell our guys not to talk about the officials, but we deserve a fair chance,” Carlisle said. “There is no consistent balance and that is disappointing. So give New York credit for the physicality they play with. But their physicality is rewarded and ours is penalized time and time again. I’m just really disappointed. Just really disappointed. Both techniques, you have to take a stand for your guys.
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The Pacers players did not share his resentment. Point guard TJ McConnell said he didn’t want to blame the referees for the loss. Haliburton said he felt there was an inconsistency, but that wasn’t the reason the Pacers lost.
“Would I like more consistency? Yeah,” Haliburton said. “But let’s not pretend that’s the only reason we lost. We just didn’t play well enough. But in the end, it’s 2-0.
“We’re going back to Indy and I love us in any game, so I’m not worried. But yes, we would like consistency. I don’t think he double dribbled, but if you can overturn that call, why can’t you overturn the kickball? I don’t really understand that. But like I said, they dominated us, so let’s not pretend that the refs are the reason we lost. We just have to be better.
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(Photo: Matthieu Stockman / Getty Images)