After ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported yesterday that Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle had a positive result for COVID-19 on a rapid test after their 122-102 win over the New York Knicks, MacMahon reported this morning that a PCR test confirmed Carlisle has COVID-19.
Carlisle will miss multiple games as former Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce will step in as interim coach in his absence.
Pierce was named an assistant coach with the Pacers this summer after serving as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, leading them through the rebuilding process for two and a half seasons. Before coming to Atlanta, Pierce spent five years with the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant.
Most recently, Pierce assisted Gregg Popovich en route to the USA’s gold medal run in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. His first test at the helm of the Pacers will be tonight when Indiana faces off against the Dallas Mavericks (12-12).
