Rick Carlisle’s Indiana Pacers came up short during Sunday’s Game 7 of the NBA Finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, falling 103-91. While much of the discussion surrounding Indiana’s loss centered on star point guard Tyrese Haliburton’s early exit, coach Carlisle also caught flak for a controversial rotation decision.
With 4:55 remaining in the first quarter, Haliburton exited the contest after sustaining what his father, John Halliburton, later confirmed as a right Achilles injury. Rather than roll over without its offensive catalyst, Indiana kept fighting, entering halftime with a one-point lead (48-47).
However, in the second half, the Thunder began to gain separation. Their Big 3 of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams drilled three consecutive 3-pointers to give them a 65-56 lead midway through the third quarter. After a subsequent timeout, Carlisle subbed out star forward Pascal Siakam for an extended stretch, sparking questions about his coaching.
Rick Carlisle Faces Backlash From Fans for Limiting Pascal Siakam’s Minutes in Game 7 Against OKC
Upon checking out with Indiana behind 65-56 with 7:13 remaining in the third quarter, Siakam didn’t return until the 1:56 mark in the quarter. The Pacers trailed 77-66 when Spicy P returned, and the substitution seemingly hindered the Pacers’ chances of trimming their deficit before the fourth quarter.
Indiana’s woes snowballed after that, as OKC opened the final quarter on a 9-0 run, taking a daunting and ultimately insurmountable 90-68 lead. Fans on X voiced their frustration about this substitution decision once the game had gotten out of hand.
“Rick Carlisle didn’t have any good reason for not making Pascal Siakam play 40+ minutes tonight. Unreal bad coaching tonight,” one fan said.
Rick Carlisle didn’t have any good reason for not making Pascal Siakam play 40+ minutes tonight
Unreal bad coaching tonight
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 23, 2025
“Terrible coaching… those extended Obi minutes and Bradley killed the team,” another fan wrote.
Terrible coaching… those extended Obi minutes and Bradley killed the team
— kel (@averymillz) June 23, 2025
“That single move cost them the game. You gotta kill that rotation s*** when it’s game 7 on the road. Especially if you’re missing your best player,” one user commented.
That single move cost them the game. You gotta kill that rotation shit when it’s game 7 on the road. Especially if you’re missing your best player.
Now it’s a coronation.
Congrats OKC, the 2025 champs. pic.twitter.com/hqEGzVqd1m
— NightHaven (@NIGHTHAVEN37) June 23, 2025
“Having Siakam sit during that 3rd quarter lost them the game,” another commented.
“Pascal was the answer SMH,” one fan chimed in.
Meanwhile, others speculated that the veteran coach was out of sorts after Haliburton’s first-quarter departure.
“He definitely panicked after Hali got injured,” one fan wrote.
“Yeah, I don’t get it either, it was overthinking,” another added.
Siakam ended the night having logged 37 of a possible 48 minutes. Meanwhile, four of Indiana’s bench players (Ben Sheppard, Obi Toppin, T.J. McConnell, and Bennedict Mathurin) played between 16 and 33 minutes, with reserve center Tony Bradley also logging five.
Given Siakam’s advantages as a frontcourt shot creator against OKC’s stout interior defense, consistently running offense through the three-time All-Star appeared to be the Pacers’ best bet. Even so, it may not have been enough, considering the deflating nature of Haliburton’s injury.
