Pacers' Absences Pile Up as Rick Carlisle, Tyrese Haliburton Miss Loss to Heat

Six Indiana Pacers players did not play Friday night in a 145-125 loss to the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle also missed the game to attend a memorial for his father in Ogdensburg, New York.

Lloyd Pierce, the Pacers' lead assistant, coached in his place. Carlisle's father died Oct. 4 at 96. Carlisle stepped away from training camp at the time to be with him.

Tyrese Haliburton missed his second straight game with a mild left hamstring strain. Carlisle said Wednesday that Haliburton would be out at least two weeks.

Haliburton played Indiana's first four games after missing the 2025-26 season with a torn Achilles tendon. He averaged 21.8 points, 9.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds in 33 minutes per game.

His last appearance was Oct. 26 at Milwaukee, a 110-102 loss in which he had 22 points and nine assists. In January 2024, Haliburton strained the same left hamstring against the Boston Celtics.

Indiana's next NBA Cup game is Nov. 13 against the New York Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Ivica Zubac sat out with a left ankle sprain, his third straight missed game. His last appearance was Oct. 25 at Brooklyn.

Jay Huff started at center. He made five of his six shots and scored 13 points.

T.J. McConnell has not played this season because of a right hamstring strain. Obi Toppin did not dress with lower back soreness after appearing on Wednesday's injury report with a left hand sprain.

Ben Sheppard (left knee meniscus surgery) and Johnny Furphy (right knee ACL repair) were inactive.

Aaron Nesmith played 20:59 after being listed as probable with a left hamstring strain. He scored nine points with three rebounds and two assists.

Andrew Nembhard was also probable, with neck soreness. He missed the Oct. 26 loss at Milwaukee with the same issue and returned Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers with 18 points and 14 assists in a 114-109 loss.

Against Miami, Nembhard played 30:14 and scored 22 points. Pascal Siakam played 28:51, the second-most minutes on the team.

Indiana used 11 players. Kobe Brown, Jarace Walker, Quenton Jackson, Larry Nance Jr., Jalen Slawson, and Braden Smith came off the bench, and the Pacers' reserves outscored Miami's 58-35.

The loss was Indiana's third straight. The Pacers are 2-4.

Their next game is Sunday at 5 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse against the Brooklyn Nets, who are 0-5. Indiana hosts the Atlanta Hawks on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET.