INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Tuesday that the NBA's investigators did not speak with team doctors or players before issuing a recent $100,000 fine for violating the league’s player participation policy.
Carlisle made the comments during his weekly appearance on local radio station 107.5 The Fan.
“The league lawyer that was doing the interview kind of unilaterally decided Aaron Nesmith, who had been injured the night before and couldn't hold the ball, should have played in the game, which just seems ridiculous,” Carlisle said in his most extensive comments about the situation since the Feb. 3 game. "And during the interview process — I was not in on it but I heard the details — we asked them if they wanted to talk to the doctors, our doctors about it because it was something documented by our doctors and trainers. They said no, they didn't need to. They talked to their doctors, who did not examine Aaron Nesmith.
“And we asked them if they wanted to talk to the kids and they said they didn't need to, which was shocking to me, and during the interview they also asked if we considered medicating him to play in a game when were 30 games under .500, so I was very surprised.”
The NBA had a different view about what happened.
“Coach Carlisle’s description of the process that went into the decision to fine the Indiana Pacers is inaccurate,” a statement from the league read. “An independent physician led the medical review. In addition, the Pacers’ general manager and the team’s senior vice president, sports medicine and performance were interviewed as part of the process. The Pacers confirmed that it had provided all of the information requested by the league and the team reported that an interview with coach Carlisle or a team physician wasn’t necessary.”
The 66-year-old Carlisle is in his 24th season as a head coach in the league and ranks 11th in victories while compiling a record of 1,008-903. He won an NBA title as a player with the Boston Celtics in 1985-86, as coach of the Dallas Mavericks in 2010-11 and was selected as the league's 2001-02 Coach of the Year. He recently announced he would be stepping down from his long tenure as president of the National Basketball Coaches Association.
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Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights went into the break for the Olympics with a four-point lead in the Pacific Division and knowing what awaited them once they got back together for a potentially brutal stretch run.
That begins Wednesday night in Los Angeles, the first of 18 games in 35 days that will shape the playoff race.
“It's a lot of hockey coming up and it's important hockey,” said forward Tomas Hertl, who played for Czechia in the Olympics. “Everybody's fighting for the playoffs. You have to be ready because the games will come really fast, and you have to find a way to take care of your body because it's already a long season for some of us.”
Coach Bruce Cassidy, back from Milan after serving as a Team Canada assistant, will oversee a club that placed eight players on Olympics rosters. An NHL-high five played all the way to Sunday's gold medal game, a 2-1 overtime victory by the United States over Canada.
The three Canadian players — Mitch Marner, Mark Stone and Shea Theodore — were not at practice Tuesday, but could be back in time to play the Kings. Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin, who played on the American squad, were in Washington celebrating at the White House and later the State of the Union and not expected to play until Vegas visits the Capitals on Friday.
“Having a break could help us short term and long term,” Cassidy said. "What I mean short term is they get to recover. It could hurt your roster tomorrow night. You're taking five world-class players out, but if you look at the big picture, that's something we are considering to give them time to decompress and then get back to work.
“We wouldn't be the only team going through it. A lot of teams have got to make a decision in that regard. It's an important game against LA — they're all important — but is it going to benefit us more at the end by giving them a few extra days? That's kind of what we're mulling over.”
Cassidy is getting back reinforcements. Defenseman Brayden McNabb (upper body) and forwards Brandon Saad (undisclosed) and Colton Sissons (upper body) were activated off injured reserve.
Others players who may or may not return in the near future include centers William Karlsson (lower body) and Brett Howden (lower body), forward Jonas Rondbjerg (undisclosed) and goalie Carter Hart (lower body).
Cassidy said the time off probably benefited everyone but goalie Adin Hill, who went into the break by putting together a 32-save effort in a 4-1 victory over the Kings. That performance followed a four-game span in which he allowed 17 goals.
“He probably wanted to get right back in the net,” Cassidy said.
Hill likely will split playing time over the upcoming busy stretch with Akira Schmid, back after playing for Switzerland.
“I'll play as many as they want me to play and I'll be ready to go,” Hill said. “I'm just looking for some wins.”
The Golden Knights entered the break with two much-needed victories after a stretch in which they lost seven of eight games. Those struggles kept Vegas' divisional rivals within striking distance.
But this is a team with high expectations and at 9-1 at BetMGM Sportsbook own the fourth-best odds to win the Stanley Cup. Anything but a deep postseason run would be considered a disappointment for the Golden Knights, who have won the Pacific four of their eight seasons.
Now it's like October again as the Golden Knights and the rest of the NHL get going.
“It's a pretty long break,” Saad said. “It's a good mental reset finishing the last five or six weeks of the season. It feels a little different, but also you get excited to finish off the year strong and get to the playoffs.”
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Canada's Mark Stone (61) celebrates after scoring a goal during a preliminary round game of men's ice hockey between Canada and France at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
United States' Jack Eichel celebrates with teammates after defeating Canada in a men's ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
