Pacers' loss to Nets another example of growth needed

The Pacers have a favorable schedule to close the regular season, but they didn't do themselves a favor by losing to the Nets. An uneven compete level, then a poor final 90 seconds were costly.

Many faces of concern late in the Pacers’ loss to the Nets on Wednesday. (Photo: YES)

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle called the first timeout in each of the four quarters on Wednesday.

After the starters fell behind 11-4 in the first 3:13, he called his first one.

Then he allowed just one defensive possession in the second quarter. That 25 seconds was all he needed to see, giving up a transition dunk — boom, another timeout.

The Brooklyn Nets’ (30-47) season is almost over; they’ve already been eliminated from postseason contention. But they were embarrassed on Monday in Indy — a 133-111 dominant Pacers win — so instead of playing like ‘1, 2, 3, Cancun!’ they played with more urgency and toughness than the Pacers Wednesday night at Barclays Center.

Ultimately, it was a 42-point second quarter by the Nets that changed the game.