The NBA hadn't seen something like this since 1948: Indiana plays with 11 absences and six men in a historic loss

Indiana Pacers had to play their game against the Atlanta Hawks with a rotation of just six players, an extraordinary situation not seen so early in an NBA season in nearly 80 years. Rick Carlisle's team, hampered by injuries and effort management, lost 108-104 but came close to completing a comeback that would have made the night one of the most surprising at the start of the season.

Indiana arrived at the game with 11 players out of the rotation. The accumulation of absences forced the coach to rely on a very reduced roster, where several players had to take on a workload significantly higher than usual. According to ESPN Research data, the last time a team used six players or less this early in the season was in 1948, when the Lakers relied on only five players in their third game of the season.

The situation for the Pacers was even more striking given the context: the team was already on a four-game losing streak and facing a difficult matchup against Atlanta. Nevertheless, their six available players kept the game competitive until the final seconds.

Eleven absences leave Indiana with a rotation of six players

Indiana's list of absences reflected the magnitude of the problem. Tyrese Haliburton, T.J. McConnell, and Aaron Nesmith were dealing with hamstring issues, while Pascal Siakam rested. Johnny Furphy, Andrew Nembhard, Larry Nance Jr., Ben Sheppard, Obi Toppin, and Ivica Zubac were also out. Kelly Oubre Jr. was added to that list, who became unavailable at the last minute due to a knee bruise.

With such a high number of absences, Carlisle had to construct a starting five with Jay Huff, Quenton Jackson, Jarace Walker, and two players with dual contracts: Braden Smith and Jalen Slawson. Kobe Brown, also with a two-way contract, was the only member of the bench to participate in the game.

The physical demands were reflected in the minutes played. Walker was the player who spent the most time on the court, with 44 minutes, while Jackson, despite playing the least of the six available, logged 34 minutes. None had much margin to rest on a night when Indiana needed to keep its main players on the court.

“All these guys played too many minutes,” Carlisle acknowledged. “But they left it all on the court... They gave it everything, and our fans were able to enjoy a great show, even though we didn’t come away with the victory.”

The coach also explained before the game that some absences were related to injury management, while others were due to the need to manage efforts in a demanding season. Indiana was also playing its second game on consecutive nights.

A situation not seen since 1948

The historical significance of what happened goes beyond the specific circumstances of the Pacers. The last time an NBA franchise used a rotation of six players or fewer so early in a season was in 1948. On that occasion, the Lakers relied on five players in their third game of the season.

In Indiana's case, the last time the franchise had used only six players in a game was on November 20, 2004. That game against Orlando took place a day after the infamous brawl known as Malice at the Palace, involving players from the Pacers and the Detroit Pistons and resulting in numerous suspensions.

Carlisle was also coaching the Indiana team at that time, so he could draw a comparison between the two games. The coach recalled that loss against an Orlando team led by Grant Hill and noted that Monday’s game will also be remembered for the particularly unusual circumstances under which it was played.

“People still talk about that game,” Carlisle said. “And this one will be discussed for a long time too.”

The situation in Indiana also stands out when compared to other games this season. So far, the lowest record of players used in a game was eight, set by Philadelphia on October 25. In the last 15 seasons, there were only seven other instances where a team resorted to six players, and nearly all took place in games that were not very significant by the end of the season.

The Pacers nearly made a comeback despite the fatigue

Despite the difficulties, Indiana was not far from achieving a victory that would have had special value. The Hawks seemed to have the game under control, but the Pacers found the strength to close the gap in the final minutes.

The most significant action came when Quenton Jackson stole the ball from Nickeil Alexander-Walker and capped the play with a layup. The basket brought Indiana within just two points, with 1:36 still to play, and opened the possibility of breaking a five-game losing streak.

Jackson then had the chance to put the Pacers ahead. With 43.1 seconds remaining, he took a three-pointer that could have changed the score, but the ball did not go in. Atlanta seized the opportunity to regain control, and Onyeka Okongwu hit a jumper with 10.2 seconds left that established the final score at 108-104.

The Hawks thus avoided a loss that would have been particularly painful given the circumstances of their opponent. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was the primary offensive force for Atlanta, scoring 34 points in a game that the visitors had to work much harder than expected.

Braden Smith appreciated his teammates' efforts and acknowledged that the situation posed both a physical and mental challenge. The lack of players forced everyone to stay on the court for extended periods, but the team managed to compete until the very end.

“I think everyone did an incredible job,” Smith said. “It’s tough. I don’t remember being part of a game where only six players were available. That we all went out there, gave it our all, and at least managed to stand up to them is commendable. It’s hard; you spend a lot of time exhausted, which is a mental challenge.”

An economic difference of nearly 180 million dollars

The situation also left a striking comparison between the salaries of the players who were able to participate and those who were not. Indiana's 11 absentees combined for about 193 million dollars in salaries, while the six players who were available earned around 15 million.

The difference reflects just how much injuries and absences affected the team composition. The Pacers had to face the game without many of their main names and with a rotation made up of players who normally would not take on such prominence.

Indiana ended up suffering its fifth consecutive loss, although the performance left an image of resilience that was hard to anticipate before tip-off. The Hawks took the victory, but needed every second to overcome a rival that competed with only six players and an extraordinary workload.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La NBA no veía algo así desde 1948: Indiana juega con 11 bajas y seis hombres en una derrota histórica