Facing a staggering total of 11 player absences due to injuries and rest, the Indiana Pacers were forced to field just six players on Monday night in a hard-fought 108–104 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
The extreme roster shortage made history: it marked the earliest point into an NBA season that a team played six or fewer players since 1948, when the Lakers used only five players in their third game of that campaign. It was also the first time Indiana deployed a six-man rotation since November 20, 2004—the immediate game following the infamous "Malice at the Palace" brawl, which was also coached by Rick Carlisle.
🏥 $193 Million on the Sidelines
The Pacers entered the second night of a back-to-back without a massive chunk of their roster:
Starters & Key Rotation Out: Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, Ivica Zubac, T.J. McConnell, Larry Nance Jr., Ben Sheppard, Johnny Furphy, and late scratch Kelly Oubre Jr.
The Financial Gap: The 11 sidelined players represent roughly $193 million in combined salary, while the six who suit up earn about $15 million.
🏀 Fighting Until the Final Whistle
Indiana’s lineup featured Jay Huff, Quenton Jackson, Jarace Walker, and two-way contract players Braden Smith and Jalen Slawson in the starting five, with two-way player Kobe Brown serving as the team's only available substitute.
Despite heavy fatigue—with Walker logging a team-high 44 minutes and no player seeing fewer than 34 minutes—the Pacers pushed Atlanta to the brink:
Down by two late in the fourth quarter, Quenton Jackson stole the ball and scored a layup to make it 105–103 with 1:36 remaining.
Jackson missed a go-ahead 3-pointer with 43 seconds left, before Onyeka Okongwu sealed the win for the Hawks (led by Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 34 points).
"These guys all played too many minutes, but they played their hearts out," said Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. "The guys left everything out there, and our fans got their money's worth."
Two-way guard Braden Smith reflected on the mental and physical toll of the rare performance:
"I don't think I've ever been a part of a game where six guys have dressed," Smith said. "To go out there and leave it all on the court and at least give them a game... it was a big deal. You're exhausted a lot of the time, so it makes it difficult mentally."