Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was ejected from Game 2 against the Knicks after a bizarre series of events.
With the Knicks leading 124-118 with 1:19 remaining in the fourth quarter, Isaiah Hartenstein was carrying up the ball for New York and initially whistled for a double dribble.
But it was quickly revealed upon replay that Hartenstein did not commit a double dribble, and the referees huddled up before saying that the whistle had been “inadvertent.”
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was ejected for screaming at the referees over what was deemed an ‘inadvertent whistle’ during the fourth quarter of Pacers-Knicks at MSG on Wednesday night. TNTCarlisle then gave an earful to referee Marc Davis.
“How was it inadvertent?” TNT color commentator Reggie Miller asked.
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, right, argues with a referee during the second half of Game 2 of the team’s NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. AP
Stan Van Gundy chimed in, “That sounds better than ‘I blew the call.'”
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle reacts to a call during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 8, 2024 in New York. Getty Images
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle reacts to a call during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 8, 2024 in New York. Getty ImagesA heated Carlisle eventually got two technicals in the final 41 seconds of the game and was tossed.
The Knicks ultimately won the game 130-121 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series.
Game 3 is in Indiana on Friday night.
