Sat May 10 00:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Cavaliers Coach Complains of Excessive Physicality by Pacers in Eastern Conference Semifinals
**Indianapolis, IN** – Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson is voicing strong concerns about what he perceives as excessive physical play by the Indiana Pacers during their Eastern Conference semifinals series. Following Game 2, Atkinson reiterated his complaints about a lack of foul calls on plays he believes were excessively physical, claiming that two such plays in Game 1 resulted in injuries to forwards Evan Mobley (ankle) and De’Andre Hunter (thumb), sidelining them for Game 2.
Atkinson emphasized that he wasn’t accusing the Pacers of intentionally trying to injure his players, stating that he respects coach Rick Carlisle and doesn’t believe the team is playing dirty. He submitted three plays from Game 1 to the NBA for review, citing excessive physicality that went uncalled. While no further serious injuries occurred in Game 2, Atkinson maintained that the Pacers continued to employ overly physical tactics throughout the game, hindering his players’ ability to move and create separation.
While the Cavaliers were called for 21 fouls and the Pacers 26 in Game 2, resulting in the Cavs shooting 35 free throws to the Pacers’ 29, Carlisle countered Atkinson’s claims. He noted that over the first two games, the Pacers had accumulated nine more fouls and the Cavaliers had shot nine more free throws, arguing that the discrepancy doesn’t support Atkinson’s perspective. Carlisle acknowledged the differing viewpoints on officiating but insisted the Pacers will continue to play aggressively. Donovan Mitchell alone shot 21 free throws for Cleveland across the two games. The series continues.
First Piper 