The Indiana Pacers are 8-31 and own the worst record in the NBA. But in spite of their nightmare season, they have looked a lot like their former selves in recent games, which is a welcoming sight for Pacers fans.
Following a franchise-record 13-game losing streak, Indiana is on a two-game winning streak after defeating the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat (who it beat by 24 points).
It is an incredibly small sample size, but in these two games, the Pacers averaged 118.5 points (seventh-best in the NBA), 47.5 rebounds (tied seventh-best with the New York Knicks), 31 assists (tied sixth-best with the Memphis Grizzlies), and 11 steals (tied fourth-best with the Los Angeles Clippers). They also shot 43.3% from deep in that span, which ranked second behind the Clippers.
Is this two-game winning streak a sign that the Pacers are turning it around? Probably not. They still have way too much going against them, and they may already be in too deep a hole to dig themselves out of. But at the very least, they are looking closer to the team that fans have grown to love and are finally giving them some happiness in a dark time of Pacers basketball.
Losing is not the end of the world for the Pacers this season
Heading into the season, there were some hopes that the Pacers could make a postseason appearance, even without Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner. At nearly the halfway mark of the season, these hopes are all but gone as it stands.
But that not be entirely a bad thing.
If there was ever a year for the Pacers to rank at the bottom of the NBA standings and have a real chance at securing the No. 1 overall draft pick, it's this one. The 2026 NBA Draft is looking like it could be a loaded one.
BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Duke's Cam Boozer, and Kansas' Darryn Peterson are all talented enough to be the No. 1 overall pick and are considered players who have the potential to be franchise guys. Additionally, Caleb Wilson of UNC is having a fantastic season as well.
Regardless of how this season has gone and will go moving forward, the future is bright in Indiana. Haliburton will return, and the team should be able to re-establish itself as a title contender in a wide-open Eastern Conference. And if they can add one of the top draft prospects to the mix as well, the Pacers will be in an even better situation moving forward.