No-call on Pacers’ late turnover against Knicks was incorrect per NBA

November 14, 2026

The turnover that nearly cost the Pacers their upset of the defending champion Knicks on Friday night should have been called a foul, the NBA ruled Saturday.

The Pacers had the ball with 5.0 seconds to go and a 106-104 lead with the ball sideline out of bounds. All-Star forward Pascal Siakam tried to throw a pass to point guard Andrew Nembhard but Knicks wing Mikal Bridges appeared to hold him back and kept him from grabbing the ball. Knicks forward O.G. Anunoby grabbed the loose ball and called timeout with 2.8 seconds to go to advance the ball. In the scramble, Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith injured his hand. The Knicks had a chance to tie the game on the last possession but center Karl-Anthony Towns missed a game-tying jumper.

No foul was called against Bridges on the play, the close score necessitated a last-two-minute report to be released. According to the report, the play was ruled an incorrect no call because “Bridges (NYK) wraps an arm around Nembhard’s (IND) waist while attempting to get to the pass, affecting Nembhard’s SQBR (speed, quickness, battle and rhythm).”

The league also ruled that an incorrect call was issued when Nembhard was called for a kicked ball violation with 1:22 left in the game.