For the first time since the 2013-14 season, the Indiana Pacers will begin a playoff series in front of their home fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. This milestone, achieved with a thrilling 114-112 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, marks a significant turning point for a franchise that has worked tirelessly to regain its competitive edge.
After a rocky start to the season, the team found its rhythm in 2025, transforming from a middling contender to a force to be reckoned with. Since January, the Pacers have gone 33-13, including a six-game winning streak that propelled them to fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Led by Tyrese Haliburton, who delivered a near triple-double performance with 23 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds against the Cavaliers – his clutch back-to-back three-pointers in the fourth quarter sealed the win.
While Haliburton has been the centerpiece of the Pacers’ success, the team has benefited from contributions across the roster. Aaron Nesmith added 22 points in the victory, while Jarace Walker and Myles Turner provided crucial support with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Turner’s defensive presence, highlighted by seven rebounds and four blocks, has been instrumental in the Pacers’ late-season surge.
With two games remaining in the regular season, the Pacers still have a chance to climb to the No. 3 seed, trailing the New York Knicks by just one game. However, the Knicks hold the tiebreaker, making the Pacers’ path to third place a challenging one. Regardless of their final seeding, the Pacers have secured home-court advantage in the first round, a critical edge in their quest for playoff success.
This accomplishment is particularly meaningful for the Pacers, who last enjoyed home-court advantage in the 2013-14 season as the No. 1 seed. While they earned the No. 4 seed in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, those playoff games were held in the Orlando bubble, depriving the team of the energy and support of their home crowd.
