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'Sometimes guys get a little heated': Pacers' frustration reaches tipping point

Matthew VanTryon
Indianapolis Star

About 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, Pacers coach Nate Bjorkgren spoke with the media about the importance of communicating with his players and sticking together during what has been a tumultuous stretch for his team.

Three hours later, in the midst of being blown out at home by the Sacramento Kings, frustrations boiled over on the Pacers bench.

After a stoppage with 2:26 to go in the third quarter, a heated exchange occurred between Pacers assistant coach Greg Foster and center Goga Bitadze. Myles Turner appeared to have to hold Foster back to prevent the situation from escalating.

May 5, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers center Goga Bitadze (88) tries to talk to assistant coach Greg Foster  but he walks right by after the game against the Sacramento Kings at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

IndyStar first reported issues of tension and poor communication in the Pacers' locker room in March and this incident reinforced that notion.

Bjorkgren did his best to downplay the incident after the game.

“We’re in a frustrating stretch here, a lot going on with the challenges of navigating through the season,” he said. “The competitive juices are flowing. Things like that will happen.”

The first-year head coach said he spoke with Foster and Bitadze after the game, and would speak with them again to get more details about what transpired.

“I’m going to find out exactly what was said and in what way. They’re both trying so hard. They’re both competitive,” he said. “They both want what’s best for the team, and it didn’t happen that way. It boiled over a little bit.”

The boiling over wasn’t caused only by a lackluster performance against Sacramento. The Pacers have dropped four of their past five, and allowed 154 points in a loss to Washington on Monday night. The team sits ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. If the season ended today, they would be in a play-in game. But if losses continue, they could find themselves with a lottery pick. The team has seven games remaining in the regular season. Four of those come against Atlanta, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and the Lakers.

Wednesday night, Sacramento's Maurice Harkless got a second-chance dunk in the third quarter with Bitadze scolded for offering little resistance. Bitadze responded with a 3-pointer and, running back down the court, appeared to say, "Sit the (expletive) down." That set off Foster.

Domantas Sabonis, who led the team with 17 points against Sacramento, downplayed any tension in the locker room.

“We’re all good. We’re all competitive out there. We all want to win,” he said. “The season’s not going the way we wanted it to, but we’re fighting out there.”

Justin Holiday is the oldest player on the Pacers roster, and he’s seen plenty in eight NBA seasons. He chalked the incident up to competitiveness.

“I’ve seen stuff like that before. Sometimes it’s a part of the game. Dudes want to win. Coaches want to win. Guys are really amped,” he said. “It is what it is. It’s just basketball. Sometimes guys get a little heated.”

What happens for the Pacers at the end of the season, and possibly beyond, hinges on whether the team can hold itself together during the waning moments of the regular season. But what has transpired thus far is clearly taking its toll on everyone involved.

Holiday is adamant that he and his teammates are still playing with the playoffs in mind.

“We’re trying to win games. We still have a chance,” he said. “That’s the good thing about it. We’re a team, top to bottom.”

There’s no rest for the weary. Atlanta comes into Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday night.

“It’s the regrouping and coming together,” Bjorkgren said. “These games come at you so quick. We’ve got to stick together and keep fighting for each other. I’m going to do everything in my power to keep the guys together and keep coaching and get them ready for the next one.”

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Matthew VanTryon on Twitter @MVanTryon and email him story ideas at matthew.vantryon@indystar.com.