The Boston Celtics pulled off one of the most improbable wins of their season Monday night, storming back from a 20-point deficit against the Indiana Pacers. But it wasn’t just the comeback that had people talking-it was a first-quarter play that now has Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle calling for the league’s attention.
Let’s start with the comeback, because it was something special. Boston’s rally didn’t come behind Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown.
It was the bench mob-yes, the second unit-that sparked the surge. No starters were on the floor during the third-quarter run that flipped the script.
That kind of depth and resilience is what separates good teams from great ones, and the Celtics’ reserves made a loud statement in a game that could’ve easily slipped away.
But while that comeback will be the headline in Boston, the concern coming out of Indiana is centered around a moment from much earlier in the game.
With just over four and a half minutes left in the first quarter, Pacers big man Isaiah Jackson took a pair of elbows to the head during a post-up sequence with Celtics center Neemias Queta. The contact forced Jackson to leave the game for concussion evaluation-and he didn’t return.
“I don’t know what the exact rule is,” Carlisle said postgame, “but that was a play I felt should’ve been looked at in real time.”
Here’s what happened: Queta, the 7-footer trying to carve out space on the block, was battling the undersized Jackson for position. As Queta spun back toward the rim, he made contact with his non-shooting arm, then again on the follow-through after putting the ball off the glass. It was the kind of physical post play you see dozens of times in any given NBA game-but this time, the result was a potential concussion.
Carlisle didn’t mince words. “It did not appear to be accidental, and it’s very dangerous,” he said. “I hope the league looks at that.”
To be clear, Carlisle isn’t just reacting to a tough loss. His concern is about player safety, and in this case, the health of a young forward who’s been carving out a bigger role in Indiana’s rotation. “I don’t know how long he’s going to be out, but it’s pretty serious,” he added.
There’s no question the NBA is a physical league. Contact in the paint is part of the game, especially when bigs are battling for real estate down low. But Carlisle’s frustration stems from what he sees as a missed opportunity for the officials to take a closer look in the moment-especially when the play results in an injury that serious.
“The play that happened,” Carlisle emphasized, “it just can’t be missed.”
For the Celtics, the night ends with a remarkable win fueled by their bench. For the Pacers, it ends with concern over one of their young contributors and a call for accountability. Both teams walk away with something to think about.