Following a three-game winning streak, the Indiana Pacers suffered their first loss after the All-Star break against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night in the second half of a back-to-back. With this loss, the Pacers' losing streak against Denver extends to nine with just one more chance this season to earn a victory against the 2023 NBA Champions.
However, despite the loss, there were many positives for Pacers fans to take away. The Nuggets. who are led by reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, are one of the hottest teams in the league. They have won 10 of their last 11 games and own the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Losing to them on the second night of a back-to-back is far from the end of the world. Even beyond that, the Pacers proved one thing in their loss to Denver--they are ready to compete for a title this year.
Pacers are resilient, can compete for a championship
A lot has been said about Indiana's incredible turnaround this season. Even if they do not get the national recognition they deserve, many recognize that the Pacers are a threat in the Eastern Conference. They have been successful against the top teams in the East this season and have a playstyle that makes them feared playoff opponents. Additionally, they are resilient, which is what they proved against Denver.
The Pacers lost by just nine points despite clearly not playing their best basketball. Furthermore, they were without backup T.J. McConnell, who plays a crucial role on the Pacers' bench, as he recovers from an ankle injury. Though the Nuggets were in control for nearly the whole game, the Pacers were never truly out of it until the very end. They kept fighting until the game was over. Given the circumstances, this is very telling and bodes well for the Pacers. And, fortunately for Indiana, there are no back-to-backs in the playoffs.
Following their loss on Monday night, the Pacers are now 32-24 and tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 4 seed. The middle of the Eastern Conference standings is tight as seeds 4-9 are decided by just six games. However, given how well they have played in 2025 up to this point, there is a good chance that the Pacers will secure home-court advantage by the end of the season.
The Pacers will have their next opportunity to get back in the winning column on Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors.