The Pacers Post Up

The Pacers put together one of their most complete performances of the season in a win over Chicago, powered by elite ball movement and a true team effort. Indiana racked up 49 assists—the second-most in franchise history—including an incredible 30 in the first half, while extending their record to 9 straight games with 30+ assists. Simply put, the ball was flying. Pascal Siakam set the tone early, while Ben Sheppard caught fire in a stunning stretch that helped break the game open. The bench and two-way players stole the spotlight as well, with Ethan Thompson dropping a career-high 24 points and Jalen Slawson filling up the stat sheet in a do-it-all performance. It was a big win—and the Pacers have now taken 3 of their last 5—but it also raises a bigger question…Are they winning themselves out of better lottery odds? With Indiana now just 1.5 games out of 4th in the tank standings, we break down what this stretch means, whether the momentum is sustainable, and the ongoing tension between development, winning, and draft positioning. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After a week that finally gave fans something to feel good about, the Pacers are starting to show real signs of life. Indiana picked up two wins behind a surging offense that looks more like what we expected coming into the season. Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, and T. J. McConnell all stepped up in a big way, each playing some of their best basketball of the year and helping drive a much-needed offensive rhythm. We also got the return of Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, adding another layer of energy to an already encouraging stretch. In this episode, we break down what’s fueling the offensive turnaround, highlight the standout performances, and discuss whether this is something the Pacers can actually build on moving forward. Finally… some winning basketball in Indiana—and plenty to unpack. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this solo episode, Brad breaks down a high-energy night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the Pacers fall 137–130 to the Lakers in a game packed with star power and storylines. From LeBron James and Luka Dončić leading the Lakers, to Caitlin Clark and CJ Miles in the building, to T.J. McConnell’s birthday and Tyrese Haliburton’s return to the bench, the stage was set for a big night in Indy. But the Pacers dug themselves an early hole, turning the ball over four times before even attempting a shot, while the Lakers exploded for 45 first-quarter points to take early control. To Indiana’s credit, they battled back behind a career night from Andrew Nembhard, who dished out a career-high 19 assists, and an ultra-efficient scoring performance from McConnell. The Pacers made multiple pushes to get back into it, but ultimately couldn’t overcome Luka’s 43-point performance as the Lakers held on late. A fun night, a competitive finish — but another loss for the Pacers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After 41 long days, the Pacers are back in the win column. Indiana snaps its franchise-record 16-game losing streak with a gritty 2-point victory over the Orlando Magic, finally breaking through in a game that, while not critical to the standings, meant everything to a team that’s been grinding through a tough stretch. Pascal Siakam led the way with a brilliant 37-point performance, capped off by a game-winning block on Paolo Banchero. Aaron Nesmith caught fire in the second half, pouring in 19 points while knocking down 5-of-8 from deep, and Andrew Nembhard delivered once again with 14 assists and a clutch left-wing dagger late. The supporting cast showed up in a big way as well, with strong contributions from Jarace Walker, T.J. McConnell, and Obi Toppin, helping lift Indiana to its first win since the All-Star break. We break down how the Pacers finally got it done, highlight the standout performances, and talk about what this win means as the season winds down. Even with the victory, Indiana still holds a narrow lead in the tank standings, balancing development with draft positioning. The games may not carry postseason weight — but this one felt good. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s the fifth installment of Sunday State of the Pacers, and the losses continue to pile up. Indiana drops three more games this week to the Knicks, Trail Blazers, and Spurs, extending their franchise-record losing streak to 16 straight. It’s been a difficult stretch, and this week brought another tough blow with Ivica Zubac ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a fractured rib. As challenging as this run has been, we do our best to find the silver linings — highlighting individual performances, moments of growth, and what can still be learned during this final stretch of the season. We also look ahead to a busy four-game week that features some intriguing storylines, including the potential return of Benn Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, along with matchups against the Magic, Lakers, and Heat. The results haven’t been there, but the evaluation continues — and we break it all down on this week’s Sunday State of the Pacers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Pacers losing streak reaches historic territory as Indiana falls to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, dropping their 14th straight game and setting a new franchise record. It was a tough night defined by the possession battle, with New York grabbing 19 offensive rebounds and attempting 15 more shots than the Pacers — a gap Indiana simply couldn’t overcome. There were a few bright spots, including Ivica Zubac, who continues to make a strong impression as he settles into the lineup, while questions persist around Jarace Walker and his role moving forward. This episode is a crossover with Alex Golden of Setting The Pace, and as always, it’s a great conversation breaking down the current state of the team. To close things out, we have some fun with a game of “Should He Stay or Should He Go,” debating which players should be part of the Pacers future heading into next season. A tough result on the floor, but a fun episode you won’t want to miss. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s the fourth installment of Sunday State of the Pacers, and this week featured a busy stretch with four games as Indiana faced the Kings, Suns, Knicks, and Bucks. The Pacers went 0–4 on the week, but several of those games were competitive well into the final minutes. Ultimately, late-game defensive breakdowns and a lack of timely shot making proved to be the difference as Indiana struggled to close games out. There were still some bright spots. Aaron Nesmith continued his strong run of play, delivering another productive week, and fans got their first look at Ivica Zubac in a Pacers uniform, adding an intriguing new element to the lineup as he works his way into the rotation. We break down the key performances from the week, discuss the defensive issues that continue to surface late in games, and examine where the roster stands as the season enters its final stretch. We also look ahead to the week to come, with Indiana heading back on the road to Madison Square Garden, returning home to face Portland, and wrapping up the week in San Antonio. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Pacers and Kings met in Sacramento in what could only be described as the “Tank Bowl” — a matchup between the two teams battling for the worst record in the league. By the final buzzer, Indiana may have lost the game, but they “won” the Tank Bowl, taking over the worst record in the NBA as a result. There were still some bright spots on the floor. Aaron Nesmith broke out of his recent slump in a big way, erupting for a career-high 24 points in the first half and finishing the night with 29. Obi Toppin delivered his best performance since returning from injury, and Kam Jones flirted with a near double-double in another encouraging showing. But once again, Indiana’s defensive struggles proved too much to overcome. The Pacers surrendered 72 points in the second half, continuing a troubling trend that has defined much of this recent stretch. We break down the Tank Bowl, highlight the individual standouts, and discuss what this result means for the Pacers as the season winds down. Plus, we touch on Bam Adebayo’s stunning 83-point explosion that surpassed Kobe Bryant’s legendary 81-point game, and the potential return of Ivica Zubac to the Pacers lineup later this week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s the third installment of Sunday State of the Pacers, and this week we’re breaking down a tough stretch of games on Indiana’s west coast swing. The Pacers faced the Clippers, Lakers, and Trail Blazers in a week that featured reunion moments, a superstar scoring explosion, and continued defensive struggles. Former Pacers Benn Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson matched up against Indiana for the first time since the trade to Los Angeles, while Luka Dončić delivered a massive 44-point performance during the Lakers matchup. Meanwhile in Portland, the Pacers hung tough before a decisive 25–7 run just before halftime created a deficit they ultimately couldn’t overcome. We highlight the top individual performers for Indiana this week, discuss the defensive issues that continue to surface, and talk about what these games revealed about the roster as the team pushes through the final stretch of the season. Then we look ahead to the week to come as the Pacers close out their road trip in Sacramento in what could be dubbed the “Tank Bowl” — a matchup between the two teams at the top of the lottery standings. After that, Indiana returns home for games against Phoenix and the Knicks. All that and more in this week’s Sunday State of the Pacers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.