The Pacers secured a playoff spot Tuesday without stepping on the court. With Portland’s 127-113 win over Atlanta, the Pacers (44-31) were guaranteed a postseason berth, remaining in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Indiana has been on a strong run as the regular season winds down, winning nine of its last 12 games, including a 111-109 victory over Sacramento on Monday. The Pacers erased a 16-point, second-half deficit to clinch the win at home.
If the Pacers maintain their position in fourth, they will have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Detroit trails by two games, while Milwaukee, who defeated Phoenix on Tuesday, is three games back. Indiana is 3.5 games behind the third-place New York Knicks.
The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals last season with nearly the same roster they have now. After defeating the Bucks in the first round and the Knicks in the conference semifinals, they were swept by Boston in the East finals.
Last season, Indiana led the league in scoring at 123.0 points per game. This year, they rank seventh with 117.1 points per game. The Pacers remain offensively potent, with seven players averaging double figures, including Pascal Siakam, who leads the way at 20.1 points per game. That said, their playoff success may hinge on improving their defense, as they rank in the bottom 10 in defensive field goal percentage (47.5%).
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