The Indiana Pacers had only six players Monday night. They almost won anyway.

Indiana lost to the Atlanta Hawks 108-104 after injuries and rest left 11 players on the sideline.

No team had used six or fewer players this early in a season since 1948. That year the Lakers used just five in their third game.

Who was out

The list included Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin plus Ivica Zubac. Pascal Siakam rested on the second night of a back-to-back.

Kelly Oubre Jr. was a late scratch with a bruised knee.

Some of the injured players will miss weeks. Others simply could not go Monday.

Who played

Jay Huff, Quenton Jackson and Jarace Walker started along with two-way players Braden Smith and Jalen Slawson. Kobe Brown, another two-way player, was the only reserve.

Walker played 44 minutes. Jackson had the lightest load at 34 minutes.

The players who sat out make about $193 million combined. The six who played make about $15 million.

So close

Jackson stole the ball from Nickeil Alexander-Walker and scored to pull Indiana within two with 1:36 left.

He then missed a 3-pointer with 43.1 seconds remaining that would have given the Pacers the lead. Onyeka Okongwu hit a jumper with 10.2 seconds to go to seal it.

Alexander-Walker scored 34 points for Atlanta.

'They played their hearts out'

"These guys all played too many minutes," coach Rick Carlisle said. "But they played their hearts out."

He said the fans "got their money's worth, even though we weren't able to win the game."

Smith said he had never been part of a game with only six players dressed. "For all of us to just go out there and leave it all on the court and at least just give them a game, I think it was a big deal," he said.

Carlisle has seen this before

It was the first time since Nov. 20, 2004, that the Pacers used only six players. That game came one day after the brawl in Detroit known as the Malice at the Palace.

Carlisle coached that team too.

"People are still talking about that game," he said. "And they will talk about this game for a long time."

Up next

Indiana has lost five straight and falls to 2-6. The Pacers visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.