Pacers coach Rick Carlisle earns 900th victory with rout of Spurs

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich congratulates Indiana’s Rick Carlisle after his 900th career victory.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 23 points, and the Indiana Pacers routed the San Antonio Spurs 152-111 on Monday night for coach Rick Carlisle’s 900th career victory.

Carlisle, second among active coaches in wins, beat the all-time leader, active or otherwise, in Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich, who has 1,369 victories, all with the Spurs.

“I told Pop after the game that I’m very grateful for him,” Carlisle said. “He was a mentor to me before I got a head coaching job. When I was here as an assistant, I didn’t get the job after Larry (Brown) left. Pop called me up and invited me to come down to San Antonio’s training camp. … It was a big confidence-builder for me. He’s been wonderful to so many young coaches.”

“I did congratulate him,” Popovich said.

The Pacers won in style, tying a team record for most points in a game. Then players doused their coach with water in the locker room.

“I wouldn’t call it pouring,” Carlisle said with a grin. “It just came from every direction.”

the team showered Coach Carlisle in the locker room after his 900th career win

"I'm just very, very grateful. We have an amazing group of guys." pic.twitter.com/Bmg9WU577m

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 7, 2023

"Rick, 900 wins. What an achievement of excellence. We are so lucky to have you as our coach."

congratulatory messages poured in for Head Coach Rick Carlisle from our owner Steve Simon, our current players and coaches and alumni after his 900th career victory. pic.twitter.com/pnkBWwG9El

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 7, 2023

Carlisle has 245 wins over two stints with the Pacers and 555 in 13 seasons with Dallas, where he won his only championship as a head coach in 2011. The 64-year-old also won 100 games in Detroit.

He needs 36 more wins to pass Dick Motta for No. 13 on the all-time wins list, 39 wins to pass Boston Celtics legend Red Auerback for No. 12 and 45 wins to pass one of his m

“Congrats to him,” said San Antonio’s Doug McDermott, who played for Carlisle the past two seasons. “I wish it wasn’t against us in that fashion. But he deserves the praise. He’s a hell of a coach.”

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.