Rick Carlisle to miss games after positive COVID-19 case

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Pacers HC Rick Carlisle to miss multiple games after confirmed COVID-19 case

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 12/10/21

The Indiana Pacers are scheduled to host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday and the Golden State Warriors on Monday. They'll do so without head coach Rick Carlisle.

Sources: Pacers coach Rick Carlisle will miss multiple games after a PCR test confirmed he has COVID-19. Lloyd Pierce will act as head coach beginning tonight vs. Mavericks.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 10, 2021

It was reported Thursday morning that the Pacers -- as well as the Toronto Raptors -- had cancelled their practices for the day "out of an abundance of caution" due to the NBA's health and safety protocols. Later that day, Carlisle entered the protocols.

Carlisle is in his first year of his third stint with Indiana, and second as head coach. The 62-year-old served as an assistant with the club from 1997 through 2000 and was the lead man from the 2003-2004 campaign through the 2006-2007 season.

Indiana is currently on a six-game homestand that began with a 114-111 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 1. The Pacers then lost to the Miami Heat last Friday, defeated the Washington Wizards on Monday and dropped the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

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