Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle will miss the team's next two games for personal reasons, the team announced on Thursday. When the Pacers visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday and the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, assistant coach Lloyd Pierce will take Carlisle's place.
Pierce served as head coach for four games in December after Carlisle tested positive for COVID-19 and entered health and safety protocols. Indiana went 2-2 in those games.
The Pacers are 25-48 on the season and are in 13th place in the Eastern Conference. Also out for Indiana on Thursday: Malcolm Brogdon (rest), Chris Duarte (toe), Isaiah Jackson (headache), T.J. McConnell (wrist), Ricky Rubio (ACL), Myles Turner (foot) and T.J. Warren (foot). Goga Bitadze (foot) and Tyrese Haliburton (back) are questionable.