The Indiana Pacers made NBA history by using just six players in their 104-108 home defeat to the Atlanta Hawks in a regular-season game on November 3.
As reported by İdman.Biz, citing ESPN statistician Matt Williams, this marked the earliest point in an NBA regular season that a team had played with only six players since the Minneapolis Lakers did so in 1948.
Indiana's extraordinary situation was caused by a combination of injuries and player rest. A total of 11 Pacers players missed the game, including Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and Ivica Zubac.
The team's problems worsened shortly before tip-off when Kelly Oubre Jr. was ruled out with a bruised knee.
As a result, head coach Rick Carlisle had only six players available – five starters and one substitute, Kobe Brown.
The financial contrast between the available and absent players was equally remarkable. The combined salaries of the 11 missing players amounted to approximately $193 million, compared with just $15 million for the six players who took the court.
Despite their severely depleted roster, the Pacers pushed Atlanta to the final moments.
Jay Huff led Indiana with 22 points, while Quenton Jackson contributed 20. Braden Smith recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists.
Remarkably, all six Pacers players finished the game scoring in double figures.
Indiana reduced the deficit to just two points with 90 seconds remaining but could not complete the comeback, suffering their fifth consecutive defeat.
The game also marked the first time since 2004 that the Pacers had used only six players in an NBA contest.
