For the primary time because the 2013-14 season, the Indiana Pacers will play the primary recreation of a playoff sequence in entrance of their dwelling followers in Indianapolis.
Tyrese Haliburton had 23 factors and 10 assists in a 114-112 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday evening to clinch fourth place within the Jap Convention.
That provides the Pacers home-court benefit in a playoff sequence for the primary time since they had been the No. 1 seed in 2014. Indiana additionally earned the No. 4 seed within the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, however all these playoff video games had been within the Orlando bubble.
The Cavaliers rested 4 of their starters for the sport, although they nonetheless shot 45.9% from three-point vary. It wasn’t sufficient to disclaim Indiana its sixth straight win, a part of a late-season push that is seen the Pacers win 13 of their final 16 video games and notch their forty ninth win.
Indiana was in eighth place as late as Jan. 5, however the Pacers have been a distinct group because the calendar turned to 2025. The Pacers had been 16-18 in 2024, and are 33-13 in 2025. That is put them on track for a first-round rematch with the Milwaukee Bucks, who can clinch fifth place by successful certainly one of this weekend’s two video games with the Detroit Pistons. The Bucks have additionally gained six straight, however this yr Indiana will get an additional dwelling recreation.
That could possibly be essential in a season the place the Bucks are 3-1 in opposition to their Central Division rivals. The Pacers’ lone win got here on the Gainbridge Fieldhouse when Haliburton transformed a game-winning four-point play.
However in a season the place it appeared like Indiana might need to combat its method out of the play-in, it earned home-court benefit and a well-deserved 5 days off earlier than the playoffs start.
