Back home again in Indiana, the Pacers face a pair of critical games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Knowing what awaits them and the Boston Celtics in Indianapolis, the Blue & Gold can rise to the challenges ahead.
The Celtics lead the Pacers 2-0 in their seven-game series, but a rabid fanbase is ready to help keep the Blue & Gold’s undefeated streak of playoff home games alive at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
In what should prove one of the most exciting weekends in recent Indianapolis sports history, with the Indianapolis 500 sandwiched between their next two games, the Pacers will host Game 3 against the Celtics on Saturday and Game 4 on Monday.
"I know that our building will be as loud and live as it’s ever been,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “It’s race weekend and everything else going on. We’ve got to take advantage of that.”
Indiana returned home early Friday morning after spending six days on the road and playing four games in seven days. After eliminating the New York Knicks in Game 7 of the semis at Madison Square Garden on Sunday afternoon, the team went straight to Boston, losing to the Celtics in overtime in Game 1 before the Celtics also took Game 2 on Thursday at TD Garden.
The Pacers are the only team left in the playoffs with a perfect (6-0) home record, and going back to the regular season, the Pacers haven’t lost a home game since March 18 — one of their most dominant home winning streaks in recent memory.
PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Follow Indiana's Postseason Run at Pacers.com/Playoffs >>
The Pacers' home environment has proved vital to their deep playoff run, which included coming back from down 0-2 to the Knicks — the first time the franchise has ever accomplished the feat.
“Our fanbase is incredible,” Indiana point guard T.J. McConnell said. “It’s truly incredible. I really don’t know how else to put it. When we play at home it’s really an amazing environment and a tough place to play for the other team. That has been proven by the way we’ve played in the playoffs and especially all year. Just a ton of credit to our fan base, and excited to get back in front of them."
Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability at Boston Celtics (Game 2) | May 23, 2024
The highest-scoring team in the NBA kicks into another gear when playing in front of their home fans.
The Pacers are averaging 119.2 points per game at home compared to just 112 on the road in the playoffs.
Alternatively, Boston will provide the Pacers with their toughest challenge yet, as the top-seeded team in the East has yet to lose on the road this playoffs. The Celtics are 4-0 on the road, scoring 109.2 points per game and shooting 47.2 percent.
While the Pacers know the Celtics will come ready to play, coaches and players feel confident they can take the next two at home if they focus on the details, cut down on turnovers and fouls, and use the energy from the crowd.
And if past results are any indication, Game 3 could again provide legendary moments.
In the first round, the Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks in overtime of Game 3, with a Tyrese Haliburton floater and triple-double performance lifting the team to victory. In Game 3 against the Knicks, Andrew Nembhard drained a 31-footer with 16 seconds left to help secure the team’s first win of the series.
While he joined the team midseason via trade, Pacers forward Pascal Siakam readily praised the fans at Gainbridge for what they bring each game.
“Our fans give us so much energy,” Siakam said. “Just playing there, obviously experiencing it for the first time, the games are just so much more energy and they are so passionate about our team. We’re just going out there and trying to compete to the best of our abilities. We can’t wait to see the fans out there on Saturday and just see the energy that they’re going to bring.”
One major question mark for the Pacers will be the status of Haliburton, who exited Thursday’s game and didn’t return due to a sore left hamstring. Haliburton missed multiple games earlier in the season with a similar injury.
Whether Haliburton plays or misses Game 3, the team is sticking with the “one game at a time” and “next man up” mentality that has paid off all season.
“I think we have the guys to understand how hard it is to win, and we know that we can bounce back,” Siakam said. “We’ve done it all year, and it’s time to dig deep and just go out there and compete at the highest level in front of our fans.”