With only a few games left in the season, the Indiana Pacers now sit comfortably as the No. 4 seed in the East and are primed to secure homecourt advantage for the first time since 2020. Furthermore, they will look to follow up on last year's conference finals appearance with another deep playoff run. Though they have not gotten their respect from the national media, the Pacers have established themselves as a top team in the East and a legitimate title contender. However, it took a while for them to get to that point.
Before last season, the Pacers missed the playoffs three straight years and had not won a playoff game since 2018. Furthermore, this season alone, the Pacers began the campaign 10-15 and did not look like a playoff team. The story of the Pacers' season has been their resiliency and turning the tides. And following their latest victory, it is safe to say that the tides have now officially turned for Indiana.
Pacers defeated the Nuggets for the first time in 5 years
On Sunday, the Pacers defeated the Denver Nuggets 125-120. This win ended a nine-game losing streak to the Nuggets, and it marked the Pacers' first win against them since January 2020. While this one win does not mean much in the grand scheme of things, it is still a welcoming sign for Pacers fans to see the team overcome these types of obstacles and buck their losing trends. As the beginning of the playoffs approaches, the Pacers will hope to build off this momentum.
The Pacers are among the most resilient teams in the NBA and can make some noise in the playoffs. There is a lot of competition ahead of them, but the Pacers have given fans few reasons to doubt them, and their victory against the Nuggets is further proof of that.
Indiana stands as one of the most well-rounded teams in the NBA. They still have a top offensive unit in the league, and they have improved significantly defensively. Furthermore, they are efficient and take care of the ball. They are also a feared playoff opponent due to their playstyle.
The Pacers are a team most opponents should keep an eye on in the playoffs. Despite a slow start to the season and an underwhelming past few seasons (with the exception of last year), the Pacers are making a name for themselves and will look to prove that their recent conference finals appearance was no fluke.