<\/p>\n
Indiana Pacers guard Braden Smith (3) shoots against Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n
Michael Conroy\/AP Photo\/Michael Conroy<\/p>\n
Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) drives against Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff (32) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n
Michael Conroy\/AP Photo\/Michael Conroy<\/p>\n
Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) drives against Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n
Michael Conroy\/AP Photo\/Michael Conroy<\/p>\n
Indiana Pacers guard Braden Smith (3) shoots over Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n
Michael Conroy\/AP Photo\/Michael Conroy<\/p>\n
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Indianapolis, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n
Michael Conroy\/AP Photo\/Michael Conroy<\/p>\n
Indiana had a starting five on Monday night. And a reserve.<\/p>\n
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The Pacers had 11 players, representing about 93% of their payroll, sidelined because of injuries and other reasons for their game against the Atlanta Hawks \u2014 and almost won anyway. With only six players, Indiana cut a 15-point second-half deficit to two in the final minutes before falling 108-104.<\/p>\n
All six Indiana players logged between 34 and 45 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese guys all played too many minutes,\u201d Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said after the game in Indianapolis. \u201cBut they played their hearts out. … The guys left everything out there and our fans got their money’s worth, even though we weren’t able to win the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Monday was the first time since Nov. 20, 2004, that the Pacers used only six players. That game against Orlando was one day after the infamous \u201cMalice at the Palace\u201d brawl between Indiana and Detroit, which led to multiple suspensions.<\/p>\n
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Carlisle coached that Indiana team as well \u2014 and drew comparisons between that Indiana loss to a Grant Hill-led Orlando team 22 years ago and what the Pacers nearly did against the Hawks on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are still talking about that game,\u201d Carlisle said. \u201cAnd they will talk about this game for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Pacers had nothing left at the end.<\/p>\n
Indiana’s Braden Smith grabbed a defensive rebound with about a minute left, then immediately began hopping around \u2014 while still dribbling \u2014 and grabbed at the upper part of his left calf.<\/p>\n
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\u201cCramp,\u201d he mouthed toward the bench.<\/p>\n
The Pacers took their last timeout and subbed Smith out for the final 58.7 seconds. On the continuation of that possession, Quenton Jackson tried a 3-pointer that would have given Indiana the lead \u2014 but the shot fell well short.<\/p>\n
The Hawks got a score from Onyeka Okongwu with just over 10 seconds left, and Atlanta survived.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a really good win,\u201d Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. \u201cWe knew we were going to be in a dogfight-type game. … Hopefully, the Pacers can get healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Carlisle went into the night thinking he\u2019d have seven available players, calling the Indiana injury situation \u201ca perfect storm\u201d of bad luck. Things actually got worse shortly before game time, when Kelly Oubre Jr. was a late scratch because of a bruised knee.<\/p>\n
With that, Indiana was down to six.<\/p>\n
The previous low for players used in a game so far this season was eight, by Philadelphia on Oct. 25. There have been seven other instances of teams using six players over the last 15 seasons \u2014 almost all of those in meaningless contests toward the end of a season.<\/p>\n
The last time a team used only six players in a game during the first few weeks of a season was on Nov. 24, 2009, when Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors \u2014 with some players getting cramps massaged out of their legs during timeouts \u2014 somehow beat the Dallas Mavericks 111-103.<\/p>\n
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Along with Oubre, the rundown of those missing: Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring), Pascal Siakam (rest), Johnny Furphy (knee), T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Larry Nance Jr. (illness), Andrew Nembhard (cervical), Aaron Nesmith (hamstring), Ben Sheppard (knee), Obi Toppin (lumbar sprain) and Ivica Zubac (ankle).<\/p>\n
Some players are out for weeks; some just couldn\u2019t go Monday, with Indiana on the second night of a back-to-back. \u201cInjury management,\u201d Carlisle said.<\/p>\n
That left the Pacers with one player making more than $3 million this season \u2014 Jarace Walker. Add it all up, and Indiana had about $193 million in salary sitting and about $15 million in salary playing.<\/p>\n
The rest of Indiana\u2019s available players included Jackson, Jay Huff and three players on two-way deals: Smith, Jalen Slawson and Kobe Brown. Smith got the first start of his NBA career, with Walker, Slawson, Huff and Jackson joining him in the starting lineup. Brown came off the bench.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI thought everybody did an unbelievable job,\u201d Smith said. \u201cIt’s hard. I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of a game where six guys have dressed. For all of us to just go out there and leave it all on the court and at least just give them a game, I think it was a big deal to be able to do that. It’s hard. You’re exhausted for a lot of the time, so it makes it difficult mentally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Huff scored 22 points, Jackson had 20, Smith scored 19, Brown had 16, Walker finished with 15 and Slawson scored 12. Indiana gave itself a chance by not fouling often; the Pacers took 23 free throws (making 20) while Atlanta took only eight (making five).<\/p>\n
\u201cIt illustrates the power of hard play and the power of hard, unselfish play and putting a real competitive spirit on a game,\u201d Carlisle said. \u201cI’m very happy for our fans that they got to witness this kind of competition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indiana next plays on Wednesday at Memphis. The Pacers don’t play Tuesday \u2014 the entire league has the day off for Election Day \u2014 and are off Thursday and Friday.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI’m just proud of everybody and how everybody responded,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
See AP\u2019s full NBA coverage here<\/p>\n
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