Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle will miss multiple games after returning a positive PCR test for COVID-19, the team announced Friday.
Because of the positive test, Carlisle will miss his first matchup against the Dallas Mavericks -- the team he coached for 13 seasons before resigning this past offseason -- on Friday.
Assistant coach Lloyd Pierce will act as head coach in Carlisle's absence. After Friday, the Pacers are off until Monday against the Golden State Warriors. They have three games scheduled for next week.
"There was a lot of precautionary steps by the organization and then it was just a matter of what to do next," Pierce said. "We came in between 8 and 9 this morning and tested - anyone they recommended for testing and pretty much anyone else we thought needed to be tested."
Guard Justin Holiday is the only Pacers player who won't play because of COVID-19. He entered the protocol on Nov. 30 and was listed as out before Friday's game.
Carlisle entered the NBA's health and safety protocols Thursday after having a positive result on a rapid test, sources told ESPN's Tim MacMahon. The Pacers also canceled practice Thursday out of "an abundance of caution."
A source said Thursday that Carlisle, 62, who is fully vaccinated and has received a booster shot, was experiencing "mild symptoms."
Carlisle is in his second stint with the Pacers, whom he also coached from 2003 to '07, making three playoff appearances in four seasons. Carlisle went 555-478 in 13 seasons with Dallas.
"He's bummed out that he's not here, but he understands the situation," Pierce said.
Carlisle wasn't the only one upset he wouldn't be on the bench.
"I think the emotion, a lot of it, is taken out," said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who Carlisle endorsed for the job. "I just hope Rick is all right, first and foremost, because this is a pretty serious thing."
