Indiana’s Rick Carlisle’s confidence in his team backfired on the Timberwolves.
Indiana Pacers the head coach Rick Carlisle had a timeout in the final seconds of Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves but chose to trust his guys on the field to make the right decision. Enter Anthony Edwards.
Carlisle chose not to call a timeout on the final possession, expressing reluctance to allow the wolves to prepare their defense. He highlighted the challenge of playing against an established defense late in the game, highlighting its difficulty.
The Pacers tactician expressed his trust in Tyrese Haliburton making the right plays in such critical moments.
“I hit my head, I think on the edge,” Edwards told Bally Sports North after his game-saving block against the Pacers. “It hurts. And I landed on my wrist. I’ve never jumped that high in my life.
Cities of Karl-Anthony, who is scheduled to undergo surgery next week to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, did not play in Minnesota’s win over Indiana. Despite his absence, the Timberwolves emerged victorious 113-111, thanks to a remarkable last-second block by Edwards on a lay-up attempt by Aaron Nesmith of the Pacers.
ANTHONY EDWARDS 44 POINTS AND THE GAME SAVE BLOCK ????
Ant hit his head on the rim while blocking Aaron Nesmith to save the Timberwolves victory!pic.twitter.com/0VbXr0ZsrB
– Clutch Points (@ClutchPoints) March 8, 2024
Edwards tied his season high with 44 points, including a game-clinching 3-pointer with 1:11 left, and center Rudy Gobert contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Timberwolves, helping them advance to first place in the Western Conference with a half-game advantage against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“His shot was next level,” added Carlisle, when asked about Edwards. “Even when we double-teamed him, he got away from us. Listen, he’s a great player and that’s why every second, every minute of every game counts.
After a dismal period in February, the Pacers are now in the race for the play-in.
About the Author
Nathan Yasis is a writer for ClutchPoints.
