Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said the league should evaluate the play that led to Isaiah Jackson’s concussion during their 103-95 road loss against the Boston Celtics on Monday evening.
The play in question happened in the first period when Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta appeared to hit Jackson in the head twice by swinging his elbow. The Indiana Pacers center left the game and didn’t return after only two minutes of action.
“I don’t know what the exact rule is. I think it was 4:30 or 4:32 to go in the first quarter, there was a play where Isaiah Jackson gets elbowed by Queta and then simultaneously gets elbowed a second time. Then he has to go out of the game for concussion observation and then was unable to return,” Carlisle detailed via the Associated Press.
“I hope the league looks at that. That was a play that I felt should have been looked at in real time. It did not appear to be accidental, and it’s very dangerous… The play that happened, it just can’t be missed,” he added.
Indiana Pacers react to squandering a huge lead to the Boston Celtics
After a hot start en route to building a 61-43 halftime advantage, the Indiana Pacers went cold on the offensive end, as they were outscored 60-34 by the Boston Celtics in the second half.
Pascal Siakam led the Indiana Pacers’ first-half effort and seemed set for a high-scoring game. He had 23 points at the break on 8-for-11 shooting after the first two quarters, but only went 1-for-7 from the field the rest of the way.
“They (Boston Celtics) were heavy in the paint. We kicked out, and we couldn’t make shots to relieve the pressure. So, it made it tough for our guys to make plays and get into the paint,” Andrew Nembhard stated via Indy Star.
