“We deserve a fair chance”

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was unhappy 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 opportunity,” he said. told reporters when discussing refereeing. “We deserve a fair chance no matter where they play.”

He also has said The Pacers believed 29 plays were called incorrectly in their Game 1 loss Monday, but decided not to submit them to the NBA.

Those plans change for Game 2, especially after the head coach gets ejected near the end.

“We’re going to submit these calls tonight. New York, get ready, you’re going to see them,” Carlisle said. “We deserve a fair chance… there’s no consistent balance, it’s disappointing.”

The Knicks are a physical team, as Carlisle pointed out. He also said Indiana’s physicality was punished by whistles much more often than New York’s in this series.

Still, the Knicks’ 22-17 free throw advantage in Game 2 wasn’t really particularly significant. Additionally, Indiana had a double-digit lead and failed to capitalize even though the home team was without OG Anunoby for the fourth quarter after being picked off. excluded with a hamstring injury.

Then there was Jalen Brunson, who spent much of the first half in the locker room with a right foot pain. 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.

Still, it may be a lingering frustration from the first game, which was determined in part by poor officiating.

The NBA’s report of the final two minutes of that contest revealed that officials mistakenly whistled Aaron Nesmith for a punting violation in the final minute when the game was tied. Indiana appeared to have forced a turnover and a potential opportunity to take the lead, but the Knicks managed to maintain possession.

And Donte DiVincenzo made a three-pointer that gave his team a definitive lead on this possession.

Referee Zach Zarba admitted It was a mistake, but kicking violations are not reviewable.

The refereeing was more of a story after the first game than the second, but Carlisle still wasn’t happy with the latest result.