2020-21 Game Preview

Wheat Hotchkiss

After dominating the Hornets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Tuesday, the Pacers have advanced to the second and final round of the NBA's new Play-In Tournament. Indiana will visit Washington on Thursday for a win-or-go-home game against Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal, and the Wizards. The winner will advance to the playoffs for a best-of-seven series against top-seeded Philadelphia, while the loser will be eliminated.

The Blue & Gold are coming off arguably their most impressive performance of the season, a 144-117 drubbing of Charlotte. Indiana played like a team not ready to have its season end from the opening tip, pestering the Hornets on both ends with infectious energy.

The Pacers will need to bring the same fire on Thursday against a Wizards team that has taken it to Indiana this season. Washington swept three games with the Blue & Gold and had their way offensively, averaging 139.7 points over those contests. In their last visit to Washington on May 3, the Pacers gave up 154 points — tied for the most points in the NBA all season and one point shy of the most ever by a Pacers opponent.

Westbrook, in particular, has wreaked havoc on the Pacers. The former MVP has averaged an eye-popping 27.3 points, 18 rebounds, and 20 assists against Indiana this season. Beal has been a problem, too, dropping 50 points in 39 minutes at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 8.

Slowing down that duo will not be an easy task and it won't help that the Pacers will be without a guard capable of matching Beal or Westbrook shot for shot, as Caris LeVert remains out due to the NBA's health and safety protocols. Leading scorer Malcolm Brogdon did return on Tuesday, however, after missing 10 games with a hamstring injury. The 6-5 Brogdon, 6-6 Justin Holiday, and 6-4 Edmond Sumner will probably be the primary defenders responsible for marking Westbrook and Beal, though containing them will be a team task.

Pacers: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, SG - Justin Holiday, SF - Doug McDermott, PF - Oshae Brissett, C - Domantas SabonisWizards: PG - Russell Westbrook, SG - Raul Neto, SF - Bradley Beal, PF - Rui Hachimura, C - Alex Len

Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon - questionable (sore right hamstring), Edmond Sumner - questionable (left knee contusion), Jeremy Lamb - out (sore left knee), Caris LeVert - out (health and safety protocols), Myles Turner - out (partial plantar plate tear, right foot great toe), T.J. Warren - out (left foot stress fracture)

Wizards: Deni Avdija - out (right ankle fracture), Thomas Bryant - out (left ACL injury)

May 5, 2021: Russell Westbrook made a pair of free throws with one second left to put Washington in front, then blocked Caris LeVert on the other end as the Wizards came away with a 133-132 overtime victory in an epic duel at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Westbrook tied Oscar Robertson's career triple-doubles record in the victory, tallying 33 points, 19 rebounds, and 15 assists. Bradley Beal, meanwhile, scored 50 points in 39 minutes before leaving the game late in regulation with a hamstring injury.

For the Pacers, Domantas Sabonis also recorded a triple-double with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists. Caris LeVert also had a big night, scoring a team-high 35 points to go along with 14 rebounds and eight assists. If he had recorded two more assists, it would have been the first game in NBA history where three players had triple-doubles.

"We fought," LeVert said postgame. "We fought hard all night. Sometimes, in basketball, you feel like you do everything right — you should win — and it doesn't happen."

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

TV: TNT - Marv Albert (play-by-play),  Mike Fratello (analyst)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers at Wizards (Play-In Tournament)

The Pacers' path to the postseason begins in earnest on Tuesday night, when Indiana (34-38) hosts Charlotte (33-39) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in the NBA's new Play-In Tournament. Tuesday's contest is an elimination game, with the loser seeing their season come to an end. The winner will advance to play either Boston or Washington on Thursday for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The biggest question for the Pacers entering Tuesday is their health. Injuries have ravaged Indiana's roster all season long, especially in recent weeks. The Pacers were without six players in Sunday's regular season finale, but as many as three could return for Tuesday's Play-In game.

The biggest potential addition would be starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon. Brogdon, who led the Blue & Gold in scoring at 21.2 points per game and ranked third in both rebounding (5.3) and assists (5.9), missed the last 10 games of the regular season with a hamstring injury. He has been doing more on-court work over the past week, however, and tested his hamstring prior to Sunday's game. Brogdon's return would give Indiana another scorer alongside All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis (20.3 points per contest).

Pacers head coach Nate Bjorkgren said Sunday that guards Aaron Holiday (sprained toe) and Edmond Sumner (bruised knee) could also potentially return on Tuesday. Each sat out the final four contests of the regular season. Starting center Myles Turner (toe) and reserve guard Jeremy Lamb (knee) are not expected to be ready to return for the Play-In Tournament.

The Pacers suffered another significant blow on Tuesday, when Caris LeVert (20.7 points and 4.9 assists per game) was ruled out against Charlotte due to the NBA's health and safety protocols.

The Hornets won two of three games against Indiana in the regular season, splitting a pair of games in Charlotte in January and coming away with a 114-97 win at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 2. Charlotte scuffled somewhat at the end of the season, losing its last five regular season games and nine of its last 12.

Still, the Hornets have several capable threats that could carry them to a victory with a big night. Terry Rozier led the Hornets in scoring at 20.4 points per game, shooting just under 39 percent from 3-point range on over eight attempts per game. LaMelo Ball, the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, is a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year honors after an excellent debut campaign that saw him average 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.6 steals.

Charlotte is likely to be without former Butler star Gordon Hayward on Tuesday. Hayward averaged 19.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in his first season in Charlotte, but has not played since April 2 due to a sprained foot.

Pacers: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, SG - Justin Holiday, SF - Doug McDermott, PF - Oshae Brissett, C - Domantas SabonisHornets: PG - LaMelo Ball, SG - Terry Rozier, SF - Jalen McDaniels, PF - Miles Bridges, C - PJ Washington

Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon - questionable (sore right hamstring), Aaron Holiday - questionable (right great toe sprain), Domantas Sabonis - questionable (bruised left quad), Edmond Sumner - questionable (left knee contusion), Jeremy Lamb - out (sore left knee), Caris LeVert - out (health and safety protocols), Myles Turner - out (partial plantar plate tear, right foot great toe), T.J. Warren - out (left foot stress fracture)

Hornets: Gordon Hayward - out (sprained right foot), Cody Martin - out (sprained left ankle)

April 2, 2021: The Hornets outscored Indiana 17-6 over the final 5:36 to pull away for a 114-97 win at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Caris LeVert led the Blue & Gold with 16 points and five assists in the loss. Doug McDermott added 13 points off the bench, while fellow reserve T.J. McConnell contributed 12 points and seven assists.

The Pacers were without Malcolm Brogdon, a late scratch due to a sore hip, then Domantas Sabonis to a sprained ankle and saw Myles Turner foul out in the second half.

Miles Bridges had a team-high 23 points and 10 rebounds for Charlotte, going 8-for-12 from the field and 4-for-7 from 3-point range. Cody Zeller added 17 points, Terry Rozier scored 15, and Gordon Hayward tallied 13 points, eight boards, and six assists.

Tickets for Tuesday's Play-In game against Charlotte will go on sale on Monday, May 17 at 4:00 PM ET. Single Game Tickets »   Health & Safety Guidelines »

TV: TNT - Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Greg Anthony (analyst)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)Please Note: Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Hornets (Play-In Tournament)

The Pacers (33-38) have one final tuneup on Sunday afternoon before a do-or-die Play-In game on Tuesday. Indiana will close out a surreal 2020-21 regular season in a surreal setting: in Tampa, Florida against the Toronto Raptors (27-44). The Raptors have operated out of Tampa this season due to Canada's COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The Pacers' fate for the new Play-In Tournament was partially sealed by their 122-115 loss to the Lakers on Saturday. Indiana will need to win two straight games to reach the playoffs, beginning with a loser-goes-home matchup between the ninth and 10th seed.

Indiana's seed and opponent will be determined by two different games. The Pacers have control over their seeding. With a win on Sunday, the Blue & Gold would secure the ninth seed and host their first Play-In game. A loss, on the other hand, would mean that the Pacers are the 10th seed and must win twice on the road to reach the playoffs.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Tracking the Latest Standings, Remaining Schedules, and More »

The Pacers' Play-In opponent will be determined by Sunday's game between Charlotte and Washington. The winner of that contest will secure the eighth seed and play seventh-seeded Boston, while the loser will take on the Pacers in the 9/10 game.

It has been a disappointing season for the Raptors, who were eliminated last week and have scuffled to the finish line. Toronto has dropped six straight and nine of its last 10 and has effectively shut down most of its top player. Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and OG Anunoby, among others, have already been ruled out for Sunday's season finale.

Pacers: PG - Caris LeVert, SG - Justin Holiday, SF - Doug McDermott, PF - Oshae Brissett, C - Goga BitadzeRaptors: PG - Malachi Flynn, SG - Jalen Harris, SF - Stanley Johnson, PF - Freddie Gillespie, C - Khem Birch

Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon - questionable (sore right hamstring), Aaron Holiday - questionable (right great toe sprain), Caris LeVert - questionable (bruised right knee), Domantas Sabonis - questionable (bruised left quad), Jeremy Lamb - out (sore left knee), Edmond Sumner - out (left knee contusion), Myles Turner - out (partial plantar plate tear, right foot great toe), T.J. Warren - out (left foot stress fracture)

Raptors: OG Anunoby - out (left calf strain injury recovery), Rodney Hood - out (fractured left hand), Kyle Lowry - out (rest),  Pascal Siakam - out (strained left shoulder), Fred VanVleet - out (left hip flexor injury recovery), Yuta Watanabe - out (sore right ankle), Paul Watson - out (left knee tendinitis)

Jan. 25, 2021: Malcolm Brogdon bounced back from a subpar performance with one of the best outings of his career, leading Indiana to a 129-114 win over Toronto at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in the second half of a back-to-back set.

Brogdon set a new career high with 36 points, going 10-for-17 from the field, 3-for-5 from 3-point range, and 13-for-14 from the free throw line while also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out nine assists. The performance came one night after he had a season-low 12 points on 5-of-22 shooting (1-of-10 from 3-point range) with four turnovers, including a crucial giveaway in the final minute in a 117-112 loss to the Raptors.

"Honestly, I was pretty angry after last game," Brogdon said. "I was incredibly locked in for today's game. I really wanted to make a point.

"It drove me crazy last night and this morning until I got back on that court. Back-to-back or not, tired or not, I was ready to give it my all tonight."

Jeremy Lamb, playing just his fourth game and his first back-to-back after an 11-month absence after tearing the ACL in his left knee, added 22 points and seven rebounds off the bench, going 7-for-12 from the field, 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, and 5-for-5 from the charity stripe.

Fred VanVleet had a team-high 25 points to go along with four rebounds and six assists for Toronto, while Norman Powell added 24 points, six rebounds, and six assists.

TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers at Raptors

Brendan Rourke

The Pacers (33-37) could see the return of LeBron James when the Los Angeles Lakers (40-30) visit Bankers Life Fieldhouse for Indiana's final regular-season home game on Saturday afternoon. It would be the superstar's third appearance in the last 28 Lakers games after dealing with a high ankle sprain.

Indiana has been no stranger to the injury bug this season as well — especially down the stretch. The squad battled tough against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night but eventually fell, 142-133, after T.J. McConnell and Domantas Sabonis suffered injuries during crucial moments of the match. While McConnell played through his thumb sprain, Sabonis exited with a left quad injury and did not return.

The duo will be added to an already extensive injury report as the Blue & Gold face an impending Play-in matchup next week. Meanwhile, the Lakers, who trail the sixth-seed Portland Trail Blazers by a half-game in the West, are fighting to avoid the scenario. Earlier this month, James expressed his distaste for the new format, stating the idea's creator "needs to be fired."

It's safe to say that Los Angeles will be coming at the Pacers with everything they have. In addition to James, Indiana will have to find a way to contain NBA veteran Andre Drummond in the paint. The former UConn center has caused rebounding fits for Indiana in recent memory. In 32 career games played against the Pacers, Drummond averages 14.6 rebounds per contest. He recorded a double-double (11 points, 13 boards) in his only appearance against the Blue & Gold this year on Dec. 31 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The play of Indiana's limited bench could be a key factor as well. Forwards Kelan Martin and JaKarr Sampson could hold the responsibility of limiting the effectiveness of Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell when they enter the game. The pair played significant roles in the Lakers' late comeback win against the Pacers earlier this season.

Pacers: PG - T.J. McConnell, SG - Justin Holiday, SF - Doug McDermott, PF - Oshae Brissett, C - Domantas SabonisLakers: PG - Talen Horton-Tucker, SG - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SF - Wesley Matthews, PF - Markieff Morris, C - Andre Drummond

Pacers: Aaron Holiday - questionable (right great toe sprain), Caris LeVert - questionable (bruised right knee), Domantas Sabonis - questionable (bruised left quad), Malcolm Brogdon - out (sore right hamstring), Jeremy Lamb - out (sore left knee), Edmond Sumner - out (left knee contusion), Myles Turner - out (partial plantar plate tear, right foot great toe), T.J. Warren - out (left foot stress fracture)

Lakers: Marc Gasol - probable (left pinkie finger volar plate fracture), Kyle Kuzma - probable (lower back tigtness), Alex Caruso - questionable (sore right foot), Anthony Davis - questionable (left adductor tightness), LeBron James - questionable (sprained left ankle), Alfonzo McKinnie - questionable (sprained right foot), Dennis Schroder - questionable (health and safety protocols), Jared Dudley - out (torn right MCL)

March 12, 2021: Holding an 86-74 lead with 10 minutes to play, the Pacers appeared to be on their way to a road victory against the Lakers. However, the hosts posted a subsequent 24-7 run, including 12 from Kyle Kuzma, to take the lead for good. Indiana eventually fell in a close contest, 105-100.

Malcolm Brogdon led the way for Indiana with a game-high 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting. Domantas Sabonis added a 20-point, 14-rebound double-double, and fell two assists shy of a triple-double. Doug McDermott added 13 in a starting role while Aaron Holiday tallied 10 off the bench.

Indiana limited LeBron James to 18 points on a 5-for-13 shooting night. However, they did not discover an answer for reserve players Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell, whose 41 combined points off the bench helped seal the win.

After Kuzma's spree helped give the hosts a 98-93 lead with 4:38 to play, neither team scored over the next 2:36 of game time. Brogdon's jumper at the 2:02 mark then brought Indiana to within three of the lead.

But Harrell's three-point play then pushed the Lakers’ lead to six. Sabonis attempted to lead Indiana to a late comeback, helping keep the game close at the free-throw line. However, with 9.9 seconds left and Indiana looking to tie, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope snagged Brogdon's inbounds pass intended for the big man and hit both free throws to seal the deal.

A limited number of tickets for all remaining Pacers home games are now on sale. Single Game Tickets »   Health & Safety Guidelines »

TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)Please Note: Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Lakers

After securing a spot in the Play-In Tournament with an impressive win on Tuesday, the Pacers (33-36) will look to improve their seeding as they host Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks (44-25) on Thursday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The Blue & Gold will play at least one game after the regular season thanks to Tuesday's 103-94 victory over East-leading Philadelphia. That result, coupled with Chicago's loss to Brooklyn, ensured that Indiana will compete in the new four-team Play-In Tournament that will determine the final four playoff seeds in the Eastern Conference.

Tuesday's results also moved Indiana into a tie for eighth place with Charlotte, though the Hornets own the tiebreaker. Finishing seventh or eighth presents a distinct advantage in the Play-In format as those teams have to win just one of two games to advance to the playoffs. The teams seeded ninth and 10th play a loser-goes-home game and then the winner of the game must beat the loser of the seventh/eighth-place game to reach the playoffs.

The Bucks will still have plenty to play for on Thursday. Milwaukee is currently in third place in the East and one game back of Brooklyn in the loss column, but the Bucks hold the tiebreaker over the Nets. So if the Bucks can make up one game on Brooklyn over the final three games, they would earn the second seed and potentially homecourt advantage in a second-round showdown with Brooklyn..

Milwaukee has had the Pacers' number in recent years, particularly this season. The Bucks won a pair of games at home against Indiana by 20 and 27 points, with both contests essentially over by halftime.

The Pacers will have their hands full trying to slow down Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP is unlikely to win the award for the third straight season, but he is still having a tremendous year, ranking fifth in the NBA in scoring (28.2 points per game), eighth in rebounding (11.0), 13th in field goal percentage (.566), 15th in blocks (1.2), and 20th in assists (5.9).

Pacers: PG - Caris LeVert, SG - Justin Holiday, SF - Doug McDermott, PF - Oshae Brissett, C - Domantas SabonisBucks: PG - Jrue Holiday, SG - Donte DiVincenzo, SF - Khris Middleton, PF - Giannis Antetokounmpo, C - Brook Lopez

Pacers: Aaron Holiday - questionable (right great toe sprain), Caris LeVert - questionable (bruised right knee), Malcolm Brogdon - out (sore right hamstring), Jeremy Lamb - out (sore left knee), Edmond Sumner - out (left knee contusion), Myles Turner - out (partial plantar plate tear, right foot great toe), T.J. Warren - out (left foot stress fracture)

Bucks: Axel Toupane - out (right oblique muscle strain)

March 22, 2021: Even without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks raced out to an 83-60 halftime lead and cruised to a 140-113 win in Milwaukee over an undermanned Indiana team playing on the second night of a back-to-back.

Milwaukee hit 24 3-pointers — the most ever by a Pacers opponent in a single game. They went 9-for-12 from beyond the arc in the first quarter alone, scoring 48 points in the frame.

"You can't start games like that, giving up that many points in the first quarter," Pacers head coach Nate Bjorkgren said after the game. "I felt like we were a little bit lighter than usual with our aggressiveness on defense."

Domantas Sabonis led Indiana with 22 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in the loss. Jeremy Lamb added 21 points off the bench on 8-of-14 shooting, while also tallying six rebounds and five assists.

Three others joined them in double figures. Doug McDermott scored 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting, Caris LeVert tallied 19 points, five boards, and five assists, and T.J. McConnell registered 13 points and seven assists.

Jrue Holiday led a balanced effort for Milwaukee, scoring a game-high 28 points while going 11-for-14 from the field and 5-for-6 from 3-point range and dishing out 14 assists. Khris Middleton added 25 points, eight rebounds, and six assists and went 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. Pat Connaughton was 6-for-7 from 3-point range while scoring 20 points and pulling down nine rebounds in his first start of the season.

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Bucks

Caris LeVert couldn't buy a shot at the start of Tuesday's game, but he found his shooting stroke in the second half to secure at least one postseason contest for the Pacers.

LeVert scored seven straight points in crunch time to lift Indiana (33-36) to a 103-94 win over the East-leading Philadelphia 76ers (47-22) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The win denied Philadelphia's attempt to secure the top seed in the East, but more importantly it (coupled with Chicago's loss to Brooklyn) clinched a spot for the Pacers in the new Play-In Tournament that will determine the final two playoff seeds in the East.

LeVert hit seven of his final 10 shots and finished with a team-high 24 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

Doug McDermott scored 20 points while going 4-for-10 from 3-point range, while Domantas Sabonis added another triple-double with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 15 assists.

The two teams were tied at 92 before LeVert put Indiana in front with a pair of free throws with 3:49 to play. After turnovers on the next four possessions, Tobias Harris missed a jumper and T.J. McConnell secured the rebound. LeVert then hit a jumper to push Indiana's lead to four with 2:23 remaining.

Indiana's defense continued to lock down on the next two possessions, as Justin Holiday made an athletic play in the corner to block Danny Green and then Goga Bitadze had a strong contest on Mike Scott's shot in the same spot on the next trip down the floor.

That set the stage for LeVert to seal the victory, as he went one-on-one with Scott at the top of the key, draining a stepback three with 57.6 seconds remaining.

"I love those moments," LeVert said after the win. "Those are moments that I live for."

The two teams traded runs at the start of Tuesday's contest. Philadelphia jumped out to an early 7-2 lead before McDermott hit two 3-pointers and Sabonis buried another as the Pacers surged ahead with a 9-0 spurt. The lead was short-lived, however, as the 76ers outscored Indiana 17-5 over the next three minutes.

The Pacers' offense found some life late in the first quarter as Kelan Martin — fresh off a career-high 25-point performance on Monday — checked in and knocked down his first two 3-point attempts. Nevertheless, Philadelphia scored 18 points in the paint in the opening frame and took a 33-26 lead into the second quarter.

The Sixers extended their lead to 48-35 following Ben Simmons' dunk with 5:45 remaining in the first half. Sabonis hit another three and then connected with McDermott and Holiday on a pair of assists during a subsequent 7-2 run, but Philadelphia responded with seven unanswered points in the next 55 seconds.

The visitors pushed the margin to 16 on Harris' 3-pointer with 1:48 to play, but Indiana closed the half with a 7-2 run to trim the deficit to 62-51 entering the intermission.

The Pacers opened the third quarter with a charge. Back-to-back threes by McDermott trimmed the deficit to 66-61 entering the first timeout of the second half. Out of the break, McDermott scored again on a backdoor cut and then a putback jumper by Sabonis made it a one-point game and capped a 14-4 run to open the half.

The 76ers answered with a pair of baskets by Simmons and Harris and remained in front for a few more minutes. Indiana finally surged ahead late in the frame, with Justin Holiday's 3-pointer tying the game at 72 with 1:54 remaining and LeVert's stepback three 40 seconds later giving the Blue & Gold their first lead since early in the first quarter.

Isaiah Joe's layup and a George Hill free throw in the final minute of the frame tied the game at 75 entering the fourth quarter.

Philadelphia scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to surge back in front. The visitors maintained a narrow lead for the next several minutes before Indiana finally tied the game once again at 92 on Sabonis' dunk with 4:34 remaining.

The Pacers locked down in the final minutes, holding the Sixers without a field goal over the final 5:26 to secure their second victory in as many nights and their third in their last four games.

"As that game went on, we kept feeding off our energy," Pacers head coach Nate Bjorkgren said. "The energy on our bench, the energy of the guys on the floor, the energy in the building. When you're playing that way, it feels good."

The joy was palpable afterwards as several teammates bombarded LeVert during his postgame interview with Bally Sports Indiana, dousing him with water.

"That's how it's supposed to be," LeVert said. "We get paid to play a game that we've been playing since we were kids. I think sometimes within the business that gets lost. I think for us, getting that joy back is going to help us down the stretch."

Justin Holiday added 16 points and five rebounds, while T.J. McConnell (10 points and six rebounds) also finished in double figures in the win.

Harris led Philadelphia with 27 points in the loss, while Simmons added 20 points, eight boards, and seven assists.

The 76ers were without MVP candidate Joel Embiid due to a non-COVID illness on Tuesday, but the Pacers were missing more key players. Malcolm Brogdon, Jeremy Lamb, and Myles Turner remained out due to injury and they were joined on the sidelines by Edmond Sumner (left knee contusion) and Aaron Holiday (right great toe sprain).

The Pacers continue a three-game homestand on Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Indiana outscored Philadelphia 52-32 in the second half. The Sixers' 13 points in the third quarter were the fewest in that frame by a Pacers opponent all season.

Sabonis collected his ninth triple-double of the season and his third in his past seven games in the win.

McDermott topped 20 points for the 11th time this season.

The Pacers outrebounded the Sixers, 45-35.

The Blue & Gold went 14-for-41 from 3-point range, outscoring Philadelphia by 18 points from beyond the arc.

"We tried to put more size on Simmons and Harris as the game went. You saw Domas guarding Harris, he guarded Simmons tonight. And then when we had Goga out there, we were able to have more length and more size and I just thought that that bigger lineup against that Philadelphia team tonight was the one that worked." -Bjorkgren on Indiana's defensive adjustments in the second half

"We did great in transition. Coach has been preaching that for about two weeks now. I think it came together for us in the second half. We knew if we kept them out of transition it was tough for them to score in the half court. And we took care of business on that end." -LeVert

"We ended up playing team defense, really being in the gaps, getting out and playing fast. I think that helped us. We were moving the ball, we were getting baskets at the basket, we were getting threes. But defensively, we were playing together and showed our help a lot better than we did in the first half." -Holiday

"He's really in tune with keeping that ball moving and keeping others involved. He was really focusing on the defensive end. That's what he can control the most — your effort and your defense. And then his offense started to come and he hit some big shots, especially late." -Bjorkgren on LeVert staying with it after a slow start shooting the ball

"We know what's on the line. We're not going to fold. We're going to keep playing through whatever comes our way. We've had a lot of adversity this year, but we know we can finish strong and finish on a positive note. That's what's in front of us. We've got a great locker room led by a great staff and we're going to keep fighting." -McDermott on the Pacers' mentality as the regular season comes to a close

The Pacers stopped Philadelphia on 11 of their final 12 possessions on Tuesday, with the 76ers' only points over that stretch coming on a pair of free throws by Harris with 55.7 seconds remaining. Philadelphia went 0-for-10 from the field with two turnovers over the final 5:05.

The Pacers host Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday, May 13 at 7:00 PM ET.

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Game Rewind: Pacers 103, 76ers 94

After pulling out a win on Monday night in Cleveland, the Pacers return to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for their final homestand of the season, which tips off Tuesday when Indiana (32-36) hosts East-leading Philadelphia (47-21) on the second night of a back-to-back.

The Pacers' magic number to secure a berth in the NBA's new Play-In Tournament is down to two following a 111-102 victory over the Cavs. The Pacers could secure a Play-In berth with a win on Tuesday and a Chicago loss to Brooklyn.

Indiana got a big lift from former Butler star Kelan Martin on Monday. Martin went off for 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting (3-of-4 from 3-point range) against Cleveland. Prior to Monday, Martin had scored in double figures just once all season — an 11-point performance in last Wednesday's loss to Sacramento — but he scored 12 points in the fourth quarter alone on Monday.

Monday's win coupled with Washington's loss to Atlanta moved the Pacers back ahead of the Wizards in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. If they can hold that position, they would host their first Play-In game next week.

The 76ers, meanwhile, don't have to concern themselves with playing their way into the playoffs. Philadelphia has had a playoff spot locked up for weeks and can secure the top seed in the East and homecourt advantage through the conference finals with a win on Tuesday.

Much of Philadelphia's success can be attributed to likely MVP finalist Joel Embiid, who ranks third in the NBA in scoring (29.2 points per game) and 10th in rebounding (10.7 per contest). Embiid is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game due to a non-COVID illness, but if he can't go, the Sixers still have plenty of capable options, including Tobias Harris (19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game), Ben Simmons (14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists), and Seth Curry (12.5 points, 44.1 percent 3-point shooting).

Pacers: PG - Caris LeVert, SG - Aaron Holiday, SF - Doug McDermott, PF - Oshae Brissett, C - Domantas Sabonis76ers: PG - Ben Simmons, SG - Seth Curry, SF - Danny Green, PF - Tobias Harris, C - Joel Embiid

Pacers: JaKarr Sampson - questionable (concussion), Malcolm Brogdon - out (sore right hamstring), Jeremy Lamb - out (sore left knee), Edmond Sumner - out (left knee contusion), Myles Turner - out (partial plantar plate tear, right foot great toe), T.J. Warren - out (left foot stress fracture)

76ers: Joel Embiid - questionable (non-COVID illness), Furkan Korkmaz - out (sprained left ankle), Matisse Thybulle - out (sore left hand)

March 1, 2021: The Sixers dominated the second and third quarters to open up a commanding lead before cruising to a 130-114 victory over the Pacers in Philadelphia.

Joel Embiid had 24 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists in just 27 minutes as Philadelphia handed the Pacers their fourth straight loss.

"I thought they made the right plays on our double-teams," Pacers head coach Nate Bjorkgren said. "I thought Joel Embiid played a very solid game. I think in that stretch there (in the second quarter) there were about two or three times that he kicked it to the weak side and (they) hit a few threes on us. That was three, six, nine (points) real quick."

Malcolm Brogdon, who returned to the lineup after missing the previous in New York with a sore right knee, had a team-high 20 points for Indiana. Edmond Sumner scored a season-high 18 points off the bench, while Domantas Sabonis added 15 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.

Shake Milton tallied 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting, four rebounds, and four assists for Philadelphia. Furkan Korkmaz added 19 points while going 6-for-13 from 3-point range, Ben Simmons added 18 points, and Mike Scott scored 11.

game-preview-pacers-vs-76ers-6

Game Preview: Pacers vs 76ers

After suffering a tough one-point overtime loss to the Washington Wizards, the Pacers (31-36) look to rebound against the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Indiana's magic number to clinch a spot in the Play-In Tournament is currently three.

Sitting at a record of 21-47, the Cavaliers are already mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Cleveland's last victory came on April 21. In total, they have won just seven games since the All-Star break. To make matters worse, J.B. Bickerstaff's squad has been dealing with numerous injuries. On May 4, the team was granted a hardship exception by the NBA in order to acquire longtime veteran Anderson Varejao for roster depth purposes. On May 5, he appeared in his first NBA game since 2017.

Nevertheless, if Indiana wants to secure its first sweep of the Cavs during the regular season since 2012-13, they will have to find a way to contain Collin Sexton. Despite the team's struggles as a whole, the talented guard from Alabama is averaging 24.4 points per game for the Cavs. He has tallied 24 points or more in four of his last five contests.

The Pacers will once again rely on the dynamic duo of Caris LeVert and Domantas Sabonis to be the squad's primary offensive threats. Both have scored at least 30 points in three out of their last four outings. Look for Doug McDermott to add a boost as well. The forward has averaged 15 points on 50 percent shooting over the first two games against Cleveland this season.

Pacers: PG - Caris LeVert, SG - Edmond Sumner, SF - Doug McDermott, PF - Oshae Brissett, C - Domantas SabonisCavaliers: PG - Collin Sexton, SG - Isaac Okoro, SF - Dean Wade, PF - Kevin Love, C - Jarrett Allen

Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon - questionable (sore right hamstring), Jeremy Lamb - questionable (sore left knee), JaKarr Sampson - out (concussion), Myles Turner - out (partial plantar plate tear, right foot great toe), T.J. Warren - out (left foot stress fracture)

Cavaliers: Kevin Love - probable (left knee contusion), Isaiah Hartenstein - questionable (concussion evaluation), Cedi Osman - questionable (sore right ankle), Matthew Dellavedova - out (neck strain), Darius Garland - out (sprained left ankle), Larry Nance Jr. - out (right thumb fracture), Taurean Prince - out (left ankle surgery), Lamar Stevens - out (concussion), Dylan Windler - out (left knee surgery)

March 3, 2021: The Pacers picked up a narrow 114-111 win over the Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse thanks to the historic efforts of T.J. McConnell off the bench. The win halted a four-game skid for the Blue & Gold and ended a four-game winning streak for Cleveland

The former Arizona guard finished with 16 points, 13 assists, and 10 steals — one of the rarest triple-doubles in the NBA. It was the sixth such performance in NBA history and the first since Mookie Blaylock in 1998. He finished the first half with nine steals, setting a new NBA record. He swiped his 10th steal with just 1:06 to play to secure the win down the stretch.

In total, six Pacers finished in double figures, including four starters. Malcolm Brogdon finished with a team-high 29 on 12-of-15 shooting. He nailed all three of his 3-point attempts. Domantas Sabonis added 18, five boards, and six assists.

Despite forcing 18 first-half turnovers for 28 points, the Pacers still found themselves trailing 61-51 after the first two quarters. Indiana trailed by as many as 19 in the second half before they began clawing their way back. They entered the fourth quarter down, 90-82.

Before five minutes had ticked off in the fourth, Indiana trimmed Cleveland's lead to one.  With 6:36 to play, they took their first lead since the second quarter after Edmond Sumner picked off an inbounds pass and took it to the other end. Later, trailing 106-105, Indiana forced consecutive over-and-back violations on defense. With 1:18 to play, Sabonis found Justin Holiday on the left wing for a three that would give Indiana the lead for good. Brogdon finished the night by scoring the last six Indiana points.

2020‑21 Game Preview