Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle comes to the defense of one of the more well-known officials in the league, Scott Foster.

Indiana coach Rick Carlisle offered an impassioned and somewhat unprompted defense of referee Scott Foster on Sunday, evidently aware of the mountains of online criticism that came after Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Tyrese Haliburton says he and the Pacers are excited to rebound from heartbreaking NBA Finals Game 4 loss to Thunder on Monday

If the Pacers win Game 6 and 7, then Pascal Siakam is the best bet to win Finals MVP. Much like the Eastern Conference Finals, Siakam is the best overall and most consistent player for the Pacers. Siakam just hasn’t had the game winners like Tyrese Haliuburton to boost his popularity.”

Up by 10, late in the third quarter. Up by seven, going into the fourth. The Indiana Pacers had a golden opportunity. And then, thud.

Bounces back with solid total

The result was only the second clutch game the Pacers lost this postseason, a 111-104 Thunder win that ties the series up at 2-2. What has been a highly entertaining, well-played Finals will see Game 5 Monday night in Oklahoma City. It also feels like a series that is going to go seven games.