Pacers are finally getting their respect following 2024-25 NBA schedule release

The Indiana Pacers have recently developed a reputation as one of the NBA's biggest underdogs.

Last season, the team entered the 2024 postseason as the No. 6 seed. However, they managed to exceed expectations and make an Eastern Conference Finals appearance for the first time in a decade, despite getting swept by the eventual champion Boston Celtics.

Furthermore, despite their impressive playoff run, many people are still overlooking the Pacers. When talking about serious title contenders from the Eastern Conference, the Celtics, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers are always thrown around as those games. The Pacers, however, are nowhere to be found in those conversations.

Plus, the Pacers do not have a Christmas Day game this season and have received relatively low odds to win this year's NBA Cup, despite making it to the final round last year. However, the schedule makers of the NBA for this season took notice and gave the Pacers their much-deserved respect.

For the 2024-25 NBA season, the Pacers will play in nine national television games. This is an eight-game improvement from last year, as their only nationally televised game during the 2023-24 season was their January 30th game against the Celtics on TNT.

Indiana's eight-game improvement is the fourth-best among all teams in the NBA. Only the Minnesota Timberwolves (+15), Oklahoma City Thunder (+12), and Knicks (+9) have a larger increase in nationally televised games this season.

Breaking down the Pacers' nationally televised games during the 2024-25 season

Indiana's first nationally televised game of next season is a big one. On October 25, the Pacers will head to Madison Square Garden for the first time since ending the Knicks' playoff run in Game 7 of the second round this past postseason. This will be the Knicks' home opener for next season as well.

On October 30, the Pacers will host the Celtics at home in an Eastern Conference Finals rematch.

Nearly a month later, on November 22, the Pacers will face the Bucks in Milwaukee in their second NBA Cup game of the year. This is also another playoff rematch from last season.

On January 14, the Pacers will host their divisional rival, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Then, 11 days later on the 25th, the team will go on the road to face Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.

The Pacers and Knicks will have another nationally televised game on February 11, and this time it will be held in Indiana. Additionally, exactly one month later, on March 11, the Pacers will host the Bucks.

On March 26, the Pacers will face the Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch from last year's NBA Cup, then called the In-Season Tournament, at home. And lastly, the Pacers will host the Cavaliers once again on April 10, their third-to-last game of the regular season.