Mavs coach Carlisle arrives about an hour before tip after attending funeral for Chuck Daly

Carlisle returns to Denver after Daly’s funeral

DENVER — Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle arrived at Pepsi Center about an hour before tip-off Wednesday night after returning from South Florida where he served as a pallbearer at Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly’s funeral.

Carlisle, a former assistant to Daly, helped carry his mentor out of the church before heading to Denver to join the Mavericks, who faced elimination in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Nuggets.

Before leaving the funeral, Carlisle said, “Missing this was not an option.”

Carlisle worked for Daly when the longtime coach was with the New Jersey Nets.

Daly, who was 78, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year. He died Saturday in Jupiter, Fla.