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Pacers coach takes responsibility for Game 1 loss in ECF
Rick Carlisle. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Pacers coach takes responsibility for Game 1 loss in ECF

The Pacers had a three-point lead and the ball with 10 seconds to go and lost. Head coach Rick Carlisle said after the game that it's his fault the team lost.

Carlisle regretted not taking a timeout with the Pacers leading in regulation. Instead, the Pacers lost the ball out of bounds on the inbounds play, giving the Celtics a chance to tie, which they did, and then win in overtime, which they did. Boston won Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals 133-128.

Indiana's coach may also regret not fouling before Boston's final attempt at a game-winner. The Pacers had the chance to send a Celtic to the free-throw line for two shots instead of allowing for the chance of a tying three-ball. While Jaylen Brown deserves all the credit in the world for sinking such a difficult shot, some would argue that the Pacers never should have given him the chance.

On the Pacers' final possession of regulation, they seemed to barely run a play, though they did successfully pass the ball in. The ball went to Tyrese Haliburton, who was asked to beat Derrick White and Jayson Tatum, seemingly with no backup plan.

The Pacers will have lots of regrets after missing a chance to steal Game 1 and home-court advantage from the Celtics. Their coach might have the most of all.

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