The Indiana Pacers managed to do the unthinkable in the postseason, going on one of the most remarkable runs as an underdog in NBA history. Despite starting 10-15 and remaining underwater at 16-18 when 2025 began, the Pacers transformed into a championship contender when it really mattered, making it all the way to the NBA Finals for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.
Even with the heartbreak of a Game 7 loss, they did quite well for themselves, going further than any analyst expected.
Performance
The Pacers’ regular season was anything but smooth sailing. They did eventually end up with a respectable 50-32 record, securing the fourth seed, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The start of 10-15 was lukewarm to put it nicely, but in 2025, they really turned things on, grabbing the majority of their wins after the break.
Tyrese Haliburton was one of the biggest drivers behind that success, with the evolution in his game taking them to the next level. Averaging 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game, he took the step they needed, establishing himself as one of the league’s premier floor generals.
TYRESE HALIBURTON TONIGHT:
32 POINTS
12 REBOUNDS
15 ASSISTS
4 STEALS
0 TURNOVERS“OVERRATED” 🤒
(Via @realapp_ ) pic.twitter.com/kz9OnJPizT
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 28, 2025
His consistency was almost scary; he somehow managed to record 11 games with at least a 15-to-0 assist-to-turnover ratio, trailing only John Stockton and Chris Paul all time. But even compared to those Hall of Famers, Haliburton showed off in his own way, becoming the first player in NBA history to have multiple games with at least 30 points, 15 assists, and zero turnovers.
Pascal Siakam has also proved to be almost the perfect complement to Haliburton’s style of play. Re-signed to a four-year, $189.5 million contract, Siakam acted as the glue man for the inexperienced roster, showing up in key minutes and leading when he needed to. It also didn’t hurt that, down the stretch, his spot-up shooting took a significant leap, helping him fit into offensive schemes.
That being said, it wasn’t the offence that got the roster so far, it was their defensive presence and on-ball pressure. A year earlier, the coaching staff embraced that simply outscoring teams wouldn’t work with the team they had, instead honing in on their strengths. With reps and excruciating drills every day, they were transformed into one of the strongest defensive units we’ve seen in a while.
Their results speak for themselves. In the postseason, they defeated Milwaukee 4-1, eliminated Cleveland 4-1, and beat New York 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Next Season Outlook
Indiana fans have a lot to look forward to next year, despite the heartbreaking Game 7 loss that ended the season. The Pacers still have four out of their five starters under contract, with all signs pointing to free agent centre Myles Turner returning. Key reserves T.J. McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin, Ben Sheppard, and Obi Toppin are also under contract for next season, meaning the core group should remain intact to push for another deep playoff run.
However, we have to address the elephant in the room: Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury in Game 7 will require surgery.
Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.
Now that I’ve gotten surgery, I wish I could count the… pic.twitter.com/UyY0iFEp6Z
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) June 24, 2025
With injuries like that, you never know if a player will fully recover. If he doesn’t play at an elite level, they may not be a true championship contender, as they had hoped. However, there is plenty of time for him to heal, and even if he takes it slow in the first half of 2025-2026, they should be in a decent spot.
The factors that fueled this season’s success remain firmly in place. The Pacers play an explosive style of up-tempo basketball built around what coach Rick Carlisle calls “a difficult style.” The foundation of improved defence combined with explosive offence has positioned them as a long-term threat in the Eastern Conference, assuming Haliburton returns to full strength.
How Did They Lose in the Finals
The Finals against Oklahoma City were far more enjoyable than anyone had hoped for, with even the most seasoned analysts predicting the series would at most go to 6 games. The series was tightly contested: the Pacers won Games 1, 3, and 6 (111-110, 116-107, 108-91), while the Thunder took Games 2, 4, 5, and 7 (123-107, 111-104, 120-109, 103-91).
That Game 7 was a rollercoaster more than the others. Myles Turner tied the game at 56-56 with 8:32 remaining in the third quarter, despite Indiana missing their star player. However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with help from Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, ensured Oklahoma City secured their first-ever NBA championship. It’s a real shame – if Haliburton didn’t go down with an Achilles injury in the first quarter of Game 7, they could have walked away with that trophy.
That’s not to say OKC didn’t deserve that title, as they saw weakness and pounced. The Thunder defence trapped opponents like few other teams in recent memory, while their offensive stars delivered time and time again.
All in all, even with that painful loss, the Pacers will be remembered for years to come with their legendary playoff run. Their Disney-esque story from a 10-15 start to Game 7 of the Finals is straight out of a movie – you couldn’t have written it better. They were honestly one of the most unlikely championship contenders since 2000.
