On Friday night, the Indiana Pacers take on the Miami Heat. This will be the first team these two teams match up before competing against each other again on Sunday. However, this is not what makes their first game against one another this season notable.
For the first time this season, the Pacers will partake in this year's NBA Cup tournament. Their first opponent is the Heat, specifically during Friday night's game. While this is technically the first season of the NBA Cup, it is the second season of the tournament.
The NBA Cup was initially introduced to the league last season, then known as the In-Season Tournament. While each game in the tournament (except for the championship game) counts as a regular season game, there are also higher stakes as the teams with the best record during the NBA Cup advance to the next round.
Last season, the Pacers made it all the way to the final round before ultimately losing to the Los Angeles Lakers. This year, the team hopes to make it back once again and avenge their loss from last season.
ready to break in our new @NBA Cup court on Friday 🤩 pic.twitter.com/h52KJdo9ej
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 13, 2024
Friday night is the begining of the Pacers' 2024 NBA Cup run
Friday will mark the Pacers' first game of the tournament, but it is not their last. The Pacers will also take on the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and Toronto Raptors during the tournament. Click here to see the Pacers' full NBA Cup schedule.
In each game, the NBA court will look different from the standard courts we see night in and night out. While opinions on each NBA Cup court have been mixed, there are plenty of reasons to like the Pacers' court.
From a cultural perspective, the Pacers' iconic blue and gold colors are well on display. Additionally, the Pacers' "Boom Baby!" mantra from former Pacers coach and commentator Bobby "Slick" Leonard is written in the center of the court and the sidelines.
Additionally, even from a viewing perspective, the Pacers' courts are visually appealing. The blue and gold complement each other very well, and the court as a whole is easy to look at. Last year's Pacers NBA Cup court, while unique, was very bright and took a lot of getting used to.
As it stands, it is unknown if the NBA plans to introduce a new court for the tournament every year. Regardless of what the court looks like, the Pacers are vying to right the ship early on in the season, and the NBA Cup provides them their opportunity to do exactly that.