2016-17 Game Preview

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After failing to close the door against the defending champs on Thursday night, the Pacers fell victim to one of the largest postseason comebacks in NBA history, falling to the Cavaliers 119-114.

The loss was painful not just for its historical nature, but because of the situation it leaves the Pacers in — trailing the second-seeded Cavaliers 3-0, a deficit no team has successfully climbed out of in the history of the NBA.

Sunday's game — where the Pacers will fight to ensure that it won't be their last of the season — offers Indiana a chance to show its mettle after a devastating Game 3 defeat.

"Guys definitely want to continue to play and definitely believe in what we can do," C.J. Miles said. "I'm not going to sit here and tell you we're about to win four games in a row, but I can tell you the next game we're going to put everything into it. And then we'll worry about the next game after that."

PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Tickets, News, and More »

Indiana's 3-0 deficit has overshadowed the play of Paul George through the first three games of the series, who is on track to finish with one of the best individual performances in Pacers playoff history.

George is on pace to become the second Pacers player in team history to average 30 or more points, seven or more assists, and seven or more rebounds for an entire playoff run. The only other player in Pacers history to hit those marks was George McGinnis during his legendary MVP season in 1974-75, in which he led the Pacers on a surprise trip to the ABA Finals by averaging 32.3 points, 8.2 assists, and 15.2 rebounds,

On Sunday, George will attempt to continue his torrid postseason and lead the Pacers to their first victory of the series.

"Sunday's game will be a test of our character," McMillan said. "It just comes down to that. Who will show up and fight to win a game and try to extend this series, which is what I expect to happen. We know what we need to do to give ourselves a chance to win. But it's not a 24-minute game or 36-minute game, it's a 48-minute game. I expect to come out Sunday and lay it all on the line. It's do or die for us now."

Pacers: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - C.J. Miles, SF - Paul George, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles TurnerCavaliers: PG - Kyrie Irving, SG - J.R. Smith, SF - LeBron James, PF - Kevin Love, C - Tristan Thompson

Cavaliers: Kay Felder - out (left ankle sprain)

April 20, 2017: After dropping Games 1 and 2 of their first-round playoff series in Cleveland, the Pacers appeared on their way to an emphatic bounce-back win in Game 3 on Thursday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

But LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers showed why they are the reigning NBA champions in the second half. James registered a triple-double and scored 28 of his game-high 41 points over the final two quarters to lead the Cavs to a stunning 119-114 comeback win.

"Here we are up (25) to start the second half and a chance to put our foot on their throat," Pacers forward Paul George said after the loss. "And we came out relaxed."

LeBron James finished with 41 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, going 14-for-27 from the field and 6-for-12 from 3-point range.

George was as brilliant in the loss, nearly recording his own triple-double. He finished with 36 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists.

Limited seats remain for Saturday's Game 4 against the Cavaliers. Secure your seats now to be a part of the 2017 Pacers Playoffs presented by Bankers Life, KeyBank, Kroger, and Mtn Dew. Find Tickets »

Note: Fans have the ability to purchase tickets directly from the Pacers and also authorized resale tickets at Pacers.com/Playoffs. Pacers.com/Playoffs and NBATickets.com are the only secondary resale sites where Pacers tickets are authenticated and verified by Ticketmaster. Fans purchasing at Pacers.com/Playoffs or  NBATickets.com can breathe easy knowing they purchased from a resale site that is risk-free and Pacers approved.

All fans in attendance for Game 4 against the Cavaliers will receive a gold rally towel upon arrival to their seats.

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

TV: ABC - Mark Jones (play-by-play), Hubie Brown (analyst), Israel Gutierrez (sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)Please Note: For the remainder of the season, all Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on FM 107.5 as well as AM 1070 The Fan. Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

Primary Logo Tee - $12. Game Night Specials can be purchased in the Home Court Gift Shop or any of our souvenir stands located on all levels of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The special is also available online at PacersGear.com until midnight.

Construction Note: The Delaware St. entrance to the Virginia Ave. Parking Garage is no longer in operation due to the construction of the St. Vincent Center. To enter the Virginia Ave. Parking Garage, please use the entrance located at the intersection of E Maryland St. and S Alabama St.

In addition, the southbound lane of Delaware Street from Maryland to just south of the train bridge will be closed for the duration of the construction project.

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Cavaliers (Game 4)

Wheat Hotchkiss

The Pacers took the Cavaliers down to the wire twice in Cleveland, but the defending champions held on both times to maintain homecourt advantage in the best-of-seven first-round series.

Now, the series shifts back to Indianapolis, where the Blue & Gold are hoping their home crowd can lift them to a pair of victories to even the series.

The Pacers put together two solid offensive performances in Cleveland, shooting 49.4 percent as a team in Game 1 and 51.2 percent in Game 2. All-Star forward Paul George has once again taken his game to another level in the postseason, averaging 30.5 points over the first two games.

Unfortunately, the Pacers have struggled to find any modicum of success on the defensive end through the first two games.

Head coach Nate McMillan expressed his dismay after Indiana allowed the Cavs to rack up 66 points on 61 percent shooting in the first half of Game 1. They weren't much better in Game 2, allowing 63 points on 60 percent shooting over the first two quarters of Game 2.

The Pacers have tried a variety of different schemes to try to slow down Cleveland's potent attack, but have struggled in both their execution and communication. The Cavaliers excel at finding and exploiting mismatches, whether it's LeBron James posting up on Jeff Teague, Kevin Love bodying up Lance Stephenson, or Kyrie Irving taking a big man off the dribble.

The good news for the Pacers is that they've been a completely different team at home all season. Indiana went 29-12 during the regular season at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and just 13-28 on the road. With a sellout crowd expected for Game 3's Gold Out, the Pacers are hoping to experience similar success on Thursday.

One key to Game 3 will be if Pacers center Myles Turner can rediscover his regular-season form. The 21-year-old was outstanding in the regular season, averaging 14.5 points and 7.3 rebounds, but has been held in check through the first two games of this series. Turner had just six points on 3-of-10 shooting in Game 2 and was barely noticeable for large stretches of the game.

"I have to slow down, keep my composure, step up," Turner said after Game 2. "Someone's got to help (Paul George). He's being double-teamed and trapped. We've got to be playmakers."

Pacers: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - Monta Ellis, SF - Paul George, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles TurnerCavaliers: PG - Kyrie Irving, SG - J.R. Smith, SF - LeBron James, PF - Kevin Love, C - Tristan Thompson

Cavaliers: J.R. Smith - questionable (left hamstring), Kay Felder - out (left ankle sprain)

April 17, 2017: The Cavaliers pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring Indiana 33-20 in the period to open up an 18-point lead, then withstood the Pacers' late charge to come away with a 117-111 victory in Game 2 at Quicken Loans Arena.

Kyrie Irving scored 25 of his game-high 37 points in the second half. Kevin Love (27 points and 11 rebounds) and LeBron James (25 points and 10 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles for Cleveland.

Paul George led the Blue & Gold with 32 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Jeff Teague added 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting to go along with four assists. Lance Stephenson had 13 points and four assists off the bench.

All fans attending Game 3 against Cleveland will receive a gold t-shirt upon arrival to their seats. Doors open at 5:30 PM and all fans are encourage to arrive early for Thursday's game. Learn More »

Limited seats remain for Thursday's Game 3 against the Cavaliers. Secure your seats now to be a part of the 2017 Pacers Playoffs presented by Bankers Life, KeyBank, Kroger, and Mtn Dew. Find Tickets »

TV: TNT - Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Kevin McHale (analyst), Kristen Ledlow (sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)Please Note: For the remainder of the season, all Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on FM 107.5 as well as AM 1070 The Fan.
Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

All Jerseys - $40. Game Night Specials can be purchased in the Home Court Gift Shop or any of our souvenir stands located on all levels of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The special is also available online at PacersGear.com until midnight.

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Cavaliers (Game 3)

After a heartbreaking 109-108 loss in Game 1 of the Pacers' first-round series with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Pacers forward Paul George summed it up best: "It's gut-checking time."

Saturday's game — in which the Pacers used a furious fourth-quarter rally to take a two-point lead down the stretch — might feel like check in the gut, especially when LeBron James took the game over using his scoring and court vision to guide the Cavs out of danger. But what matters now is how Indiana responds in Game 2.

Aside from George, who continued his run of April excellence with 29 points and seven assists, many of the Pacers struggled to find a rhythm, especially as James and company racked up 66 points on offense through the first two quarters.

Down the stretch, however, several of the Pacers found their touch. Jeff Teague, who finished 3-of-10 from the field, canned two critical 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Myles Turner, who was 5-of-12, came up with an incredible block late in the fourth, breathing life into the Pacers' comeback bid.

Those plays in the fourth quarter, in which the Pacers outscored Cleveland 24-17, give hope to the idea that Indiana is starting to feel settled against the Cavaliers and their deafening crowd.

In what was just his seventh game back in a Pacers uniform, Lance Stephenson again made the case for more minutes on the floor, compiling his best overall performance since returning to the team with 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and no turnovers in 27 minutes.

Stephenson played up until the final whistle at the shooting guard spot, with his size helping to solve a defensive problem the Pacers face when switching defenders. Aside from his defensive versatility, Stephenson is also a jolt of electricity, pushing the tempo of the Pacers while on the floor.

"We went to a bigger lineup at the guard position with Lance (Stephenson) playing the point guard. We were just trying to keep them in front of us and I think that worked," said Pacers head coach Nate McMillan. "They had to shoot contested twos. LeBron (James) was able to get into the paint and score on some of those occasions, but it allowed us to get back into this game and eventually have an opportunity to win."

On the road against the defending champions, the opportunity to win is about as much as one can ask for. While they came up inches short on Saturday with Miles' shot glancing off the rim, Indiana's next opportunity comes Monday evening.

And as George said, "It's gut-checking time."

Pacers: Glenn Robinson III - questionable (left calf strain)

April 15, 2017: The Pacers had the final shot and a chance to steal Game 1 on the road, but C.J. Miles' look at the buzzer went wide as Indiana fell 109-108 in the series-opening matchup.

Paul George picked up just where he left the regular season off, scoring at will. George poured in a team-high 29 points for the Pacers, going 6-of-8 from behind the arc, but Indiana's comeback proved to be too little too late.

After giving up more than 30 points in each of the opening quarters, the Pacers were playing catchup for nearly the entire second half.

A Jeff Teague 3-point shot gave the Pacers a lead with three minutes remaining in in the fourth, where Indiana outscored Cleveland 24-17.

But down the stretch, the LeBron James and Kyrie Irving — who combined to score 55 points — proved to be too much to handle, pushing Cleveland to a victory on its own floor.

After two games in Cleveland, the Pacers return to Indiana for Games 3 and 4 on Thursday, April 20 and Sunday, April 23. Find tickets at Pacers.com/Playoffs »

TV: TNT - Marv Albert (play-by-play), Brent Barry (analyst), Kristen Ledlow (sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Austin Croshere (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)Please Note: For the remainder of the season, all Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on FM 107.5 as well as AM 1070 The Fan.

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Game Preview: Pacers at Cavaliers (Game 2)

With their 104-86 win over the Hawks in the final game of the season, the Pacers clinched their sixth playoff berth in the last seven seasons.

As the battles around the rest of the conference subsided, the playoff field became set in stone, with Indiana (42-40) entering into a 7-seed versus 2-seed, best-of-seven matchup with a familiar foe, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers (51-31).

First, the bad news for Indiana: LeBron James in the first round of the playoffs has never lost in his entire career.

After his Cavaliers missed the playoffs in each of his first two seasons, teams with James on it have reached at least the second round, dating back to 2005-06.

PLAYOFF CENTRAL: VIP Ticket Access, News, and More »

Furthermore, a team with James on it has never had a first round series go to seven games. Since 2008, James' teams haven't had a sereis go past five games in the opening round. And since the 2012 Playoffs, James' teams have swept their first round series. The last time a team won a game against James in the first round was May 6, 2012, when the Knicks avoided a sweep by taking Game 4 89-87.

Now for the good news: Against LeBron in the playoffs, Paul George and the Pacers have gone an impressive 7-12 against the perennial contenders.

Additionally, the ways that the two teams are entering the postseason couldn't be further apart. Indiana won its final five games of the regular season, with Paul George erupting for his best month of the season, averaging 32.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.2 steals in April.

The Cavaliers, conversely, dropped their final four games entering the postseason, losing out on the Eastern Conference's top seed in the process.

Cleveland's last two losses weren't as worrisome, since the Cavs had elected to rest James and Irving so that they would be at full health for the playoffs. But the previous two losses were a bit more confounding for the Cavs. Against a Hawks team resting their starters, the Cavaliers were at full strength, but still lost 114-100 at home.

With a chance for redemption on the road, Cleveland hit yet another hurdle, blowing a 26-point lead in the fourth quarter in Atlanta.

Since March 1st, the Cavaliers' defense has been in a state of disarray, surrendering 111.6 points per 100 possessions, the second worst in the NBA. Over that same timeframe, the Pacers have posted the league's 11th best offensive rating, scoring 107.9 points per 100 possession.

With a Cavs team struggling and a Pacers group surging, this series offers one of the most intriguing matchups of the NBA's opening round.

Paul George and LeBron James have met in the playoffs three times in their careers, with the series never failing to reach at least six games. Buckle up.

Pacers: Glenn Robinson III - out (sore left calf), Al Jefferson - questionable (sprained left ankle)

Cavaliers: Kay Felder - questionable (left ankle sprain)

April 2, 2017: In one of the most memorable games of the 2016-17 season, the Pacers fell 135-130 in a double-overtime thriller with the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.

In the loss, Paul George put forth one of the best games of his career, scoring 19 of his game-high 43 points in the overtime periods.

"At this point, it's whatever the team needs from me," said George, who played 48 minutes. "I will give whatever I have, and do whatever I have to do. That is what tonight came down to. Whether I was going to make or miss those shots, I was confident in taking them. At this point, it's whatever this team needs from me."

In the first overtime, it looked like lights out for the Pacers when J.R. Smith drained a triple from the corner to put the Cavs up 114-113 with 2.8 seconds left. But on the other end, George was fouled while attempting to hit a game-winner. At the foul line, PG missed on his first but connected on the second, tying the game at 114 all.

The Pacers got another chance at it and the responsibility to hit the winner once again rested on George's shoulders. Although he managed to find room to get the shot, it was just off, sending the game to its second overtime period.

In the second overtime, George gave the Pacers their first lead of the period after picking up a bucket and a foul when Kyrie Irving made contact with him, putting the Blue & Gold up 117-116. But on the next possession, Kevin Love nailed a hook shot to put Cleveland back on top. With the Pacers playing a small lineup, Love took advantage of the Pacers, powering his way to an offensive rebound and putback bucket in the paint to establish a 120-117 Cavaliers lead with 2:36 remaining, going on to win by five.

"They hit some amazing shots," Jeff Teague said. "That's what they do. They have been doing it all year. They always have a lot of shooting on the floor one through five. That's why they are a good team."

After two games in Cleveland, the Pacers will return to Indiana for Games 3 and 4 on Thursday, April 20 and Sunday, April 23. Find out how to get exclusive presale access to playoff tickets at Pacers.com/Playoffs »

TV: ABC - Mike Breen (play-by-play), Jeff Van Gundy (analyst), Mark Jackson (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Austin Croshere (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)Please Note: For the remainder of the season, all Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on FM 107.5 as well as AM 1070 The Fan.

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Game Preview: Pacers at Cavaliers (Game 1)

Doors at Bankers Life Fieldhouse will open at 6:30 PM ET

On Monday night, Pacers fans were transfixed on two games: the Pacers vs. 76ers and the Heat vs. Cavaliers.

After Indiana took care of business on the road, picking up its fourth consecutive victory, all eyes were on Cleveland, who would've allowed the Pacers to clinch a postseason berth had it topped the Heat.

But in overtime, the Heat prevailed, sending the Pacers (41-40) into their final game of the season in control of their postseason destiny but needing a win on Wednesday night against the Hawks to guarantee themselves a spot in the 2017 NBA Playoffs.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Track the Pacers' Playoff Push »

Wednesday night will be Fan Appreciation Night presented by Indiana Members Credit Union, and without a doubt, the fans would appreciate nothing more than to see the Pacers punch their ticket to the postseason against an impressive Hawks team that just beat the Cavaliers in back-to-back meetings over the weekend.

But the Pacers are hot as well, having picked up four consecutive wins on the heels of a four-game losing streak to thrust themselves back into the catbird seat of playoff contention. Much of their success has been due to the sublime play of the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week Paul George, who notched his 11th straight game scoring 20 or more points during Monday's win over Philly.

George now has the second-most consecutive 20 point games of his career and is shooting 42.3 percent from three and 51.1 percent from the field over the 11-game stretch.

Carrying a winning streak of four games while enjoying the play of the hottest player in the Eastern Conference, the Pacers appear in good position to wrap up the regular season at home, where they've gone 28-12 this season.

Pacers: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - Monta Ellis, SF - Paul George, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles TurnerHawks: PG - Jose Calderon, SG - Thabo Sefolosha, SF - Taurean Prince, PF - Ersan Ilyasova, C - Kris Humphries

Hawks: Kent Bazemore - out (rest), Tim Hardaway Jr. - out (rest), Dwight Howard - out (rest), Paul Millsap - out (rest), Dennis Schröder - out (rest), Thabo Sefalosha - probable (groin)

March 5, 2017: Paul George put the Pacers in position to succeed, scoring 34 points in the first three quarters. But it was Glenn Robinson III who played the role of hero, sinking a game-winning 3-pointer from the corner to send the Pacers to an impressive 97-96 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

After Tim Hardaway Jr. missed a 3-pointer with 10 seconds to play, Jeff Teague grabbed the rebound and quickly pushed the ball up the court. Teague handed off to George on the right sideline, who drove baseline before kicking out to C.J. Miles on the left wing.

Miles deftly passed to Robinson in the corner for the open triple, and the reigning Slam Dunk champion swished home the shot, much to the delight of his two-time All-Star father and the entire Pacers bench.

For the Hawks, Tim Hardaway Jr. led the team with 24 points off the bench in the loss. Paul Millsap added 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Schröder had 18 points and seven assists.

The Pacers will host the Atlanta Hawks for Fan Appreciation Night presented by Indiana Members Credit Union on Wednesday, April 12 at 8:00 PM ET. Find Tickets »

Every fan in attendance will receive a 2016-17 Pacers Team Poster.

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
ESPN - Mark Jones (play-by-play), Hubie Brown (analyst)
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)Please Note: For the remainder of the season, all Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on FM 107.5 as well as AM 1070 The Fan. Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

Fan Appreciation Night: 50% - 75% Off Select items. Game Night Specials can be purchased in the Home Court Gift Shop or any of our souvenir stands located on all levels of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The special is also available online at PacersGear.com until midnight.

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Hawks

Oh, how quickly things can change. This time a week ago, the Pacers were on the outside looking in on the playoff race. Now, after reeling off three straight wins, Indiana (40-40) can clinch a playoff spot with a win on Monday night in Philadelphia and a little help.

If the Pacers beat the 76ers (28-52) and either Chicago or Miami loses, the Blue & Gold will secure their sixth postseason berth in seven seasons. The Bulls host Orlando on Monday, while the Heat play the Cavaliers.

Indiana put together arguably its best all-around offensive performance of the season in Saturday's 127-112 win over the Magic in Orlando. Just four days after setting a season high for points in a half with 68 points in the final two quarters of their win over the Raptors, the Pacers matched that total in the first half of Saturday's contest.

The Blue & Gold wound up shooting 59.2 percent from the field in the victory. Paul George was sensational once again, scoring 37 points on 14-of-22 shooting. Myles Turner added 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting, and Thaddeus Young converted 7-of-8 shots while racking up 14 points. Jeff Teague created many of those open shots, dishing out 13 assists.

The Pacers will see a familiar face when they take on the injury-plagued Sixers on Monday night. Philadelphia received an injury hardship exception from the league last week (the 76ers have six players listed as out for Monday's contest) and signed rookie forward Alex Poythress, who took part in training camp with the Pacers and then starred for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants for most of the regular season.

Poythress, who was named a D-League All-Star in February, has appeared in four games for Philadelphia, averaging 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Pacers: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - Monta Ellis, SF - Paul George, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles Turner76ers: PG - T.J. McConnell, SG - Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, SF - Justin Anderson, PF - Dario Šarić, C - Richaun Holmes

76ers: Jerryd Bayless - out (left wrist surgery), Robert Covington - out (right knee injury), Joel Embiid - out (left knee injury), Jahlil Okafor - out (right knee soreness), Sergio Rodriguez - out (left hamstring strain), Ben Simmons - out (acute fracture, right foot)

March 26, 2017: Seven players scored in double figures in the Pacers' 107-94 win over Philadelphia at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. All-Star forward Paul George led the way with 21 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Myles Turner tallied 17 points and 16 rebounds to record his 12th double-double of the season, while Jeff Teague added 16 points and four assists.

"We were in attack mode," Teague said. "I think everybody came out just being aggressive. When we play like that, we're a good team."

Sergio Rodriguez led Philadelphia with 16 points in the loss. Rookie center Shawn Long recorded his first career double-double, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Richaun Holmes also had a double-double, collecting 11 points and 12 boards.

The Pacers will host the Atlanta Hawks for Fan Appreciation Night on Wednesday, April 12 at 8:00 PM ET. Find Tickets »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)Please Note: For the remainder of the season, all Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on FM 107.5 as well as AM 1070 The Fan.

Primary Logo T-Shirt - $12. Game Night Specials can be purchased online the day of each away game from 10:00 AM - Midnight. Order Online »

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Game Preview: Pacers at 76ers

It took two months, but the Pacers finally have another winning streak. Indiana (39-40) won its second consecutive game on Thursday night against Milwaukee, the first time the Blue & Gold have won two straight games since their season-best seven-game winning streak came to an end on Feb. 6.

The win moved the Pacers back into the eighth seed in the crowded Eastern Conference playoff race. Indiana is tied with Chicago for seventh and a game ahead of ninth-place Miami.

With three games left in the regular season, the Pacers know they likely need to run the table if they want to secure the franchise's sixth postseason berth in the last seven years. The schedule gets a little easier the next two games with matchups against the lottery-bound Magic and 76ers, but both of those games are on the road, where the Pacers are just 11-28 on the season.

The good news for the Pacers is that their All-Star forward is playing his best basketball of the season. Paul George recorded his second straight double-double on Thursday, collecting 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting and 10 rebounds. George has now scored 20 or more points in each of his last nine games and is shooting over 48 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range since March 1.

The Magic (28-51) were eliminated from playoff contention long ago, but they're still playing hard under head coach Frank Vogel. Just last week, the Magic took the Celtics — currently battling with Cleveland for the top seed in the East — down to the final buzzer in Boston, leading by as many as 13 points before falling, 117-116. The Pacers certainly can't afford to take Orlando lightly on Saturday night.

Pacers: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - Monta Ellis, SF - Paul George, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles TurnerMagic: PG - Elfrid Payton, SG - Jodie Meeks, SF - Terrence Ross, PF - Aaron Gordon, C - Nikola Vučević

Pacers: Glenn Robinson III - out (sore left calf)

Magic: Evan Fournier – questionable (sore right wrist), Jeff Green – out (sore lower back)

February 1, 2017: The Pacers picked up a 98-88 win in Orlando, their fourth consecutive victory.

Indiana won thanks to a balanced effort, with nine players scoring between eight and 16 points. C.J. Miles had a team-high 16 points, going 4-for-5 from 3-point range, while Glenn Robinson III tallied 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Serge Ibaka led the Magic with 20 points and nine rebounds. Nikola Vučević recorded a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.

Hoop Set - $12. Game Night Specials can be purchased online the day of each away game from 10:00 AM - Midnight. Order Online »

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Game Preview: Pacers at Magic

While it was Paul George who carried the Pacers during their impressive 19-point comeback on Tuesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, scoring 35 points to go along with 10 rebounds, Lance Stephenson provided an emotional lift for the Blue & Gold.

Playing in his first home game since resigning, Stephenson struggled early on, but found his touch in the second half, registering a series of plays that sent The Fieldhouse into a frenzy.

"I just tried to come in, play smart, don’t do too much, be aggressive and make smart plays," Stephenson said. "It just happened to work out for everyone and we fed off each other’s energy. I’m just happy we got the win. We got into them in the second half on the defensive end and we made smart plays. When you do that stuff, the game will come easy."

But on Thursday, the Pacers (38-40) will face the toughest of their four remaining opponents in the Milwaukee Bucks, who have surged to a 40-38 record by going 14-4 in the month of March, the best record in the Eastern Conference during that timeframe.

The Pacers — who just snapped a four-game losing streak — are desperate to secure a playoff berth and aiming to win consecutive games for the first time since February 6.

Following their meeting with the Bucks, Indiana will embark on a two game road trip against teams out of the playoff race — Orlando and Philadelphia — then return home for game 82 against the Atlanta Hawks.

If the last two games are any indication, the Pacers — and specifically Paul George — are locked in. Over the last two contests, George has compiled a total of 78 points in 88 minutes on the floor. But at this point in the season, the Pacers' leading scorer isn't worried about fatigue.

"I’m dialed in," George said after posting a double-double on Tuesday. "Whatever it takes to get it, I’m going to work my butt off and try to get us on the right path. Every night I am going to try and put it all out on that floor and lay it all out."

Pacers: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - Monta Ellis, SF - Paul George, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles TurnerBucks: PG - Matthew Dellavedova, SG - Tony Snell, SF - Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF - Khris Middleton, C - Thon Maker

Pacers: Al Jefferson - available (sprained left ankle), Glenn Robinson III - out (sore left calf)

Bucks: Malcolm Brogdon - out (back soreness), John Henson - out (left thumb sprain), Jabari Parker - out (post surgery, left knee)

March 10, 2017: Despite leading by 11 points in the first half, the Pacers fell to the Bucks 99-85 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee.

"They played a zone and they trapped," said Paul George of the Bucks. "They played a scrappy game. It plays into their strengths, being long and athletic. It comes down to guys needing to tighten it up and make plays offensively."

Milwaukee, which collected its fifth straight win, was led by the all-around play of All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo who finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Khris Middleton, who is still getting in the swing of things following an injury, collected 21 points for the Bucks as well.

In the fourth, the Pacers were able to cut the deficit to just three points following a cutting Monta Ellis layup to make it 79-76 with 8:22 left in the game. But from that point, the Milwaukee's offense clicked again, reeling off a 9-3 run to create another comfortable wedge as crunch time approached.

The Pacers host their final Hickory Game of the season when the Milwaukee Buckets visit Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday night at 7 PM ET. Find Tickets »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)Please Note: For the remainder of the season, all Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on FM 107.5 as well as AM 1070 The Fan. Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

Hickory State Hat - $10. Game Night Specials can be purchased in the Home Court Gift Shop or any of our souvenir stands located on all levels of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The special is also available online at PacersGear.com until midnight.

2016‑17 Game Preview