Indiana Pacers

ABA royalty, three titles in that league. A hard-nosed franchise from the basketball-mad Hoosier state.

The story

ABA royalty and eight points in nine seconds

The Pacers ruled the ABA, winning three titles in the 1970s before joining the NBA in 1976. That older glory is real, even if the NBA banner has never come.

Reggie Miller defined the modern Pacers, a trash-talking sniper who once scored eight points in nine seconds to break the Knicks' hearts at Madison Square Garden. The 2004 Malice at the Palace then derailed a contender.

Tyrese Haliburton has revived the franchise with the fastest offense in the league and deep playoff runs that put Indiana back on the map.

The Mark Jackson and Rik Smits teams of the late 1990s finally pushed past the Knicks to the 2000 Finals, where they ran into Shaq and Kobe's Lakers at their peak.

For the fans

You remember Reggie's daggers and you love a team that plays fast and fearless. Indiana basketball is the heartland's game, sped up.

For the punters

One of the fastest paces in the league, so totals lean over. They can beat anyone on a hot shooting night, which makes them a dangerous underdog.

See the Pacers odds board →Rivalries: Knicks · Pistons

Power rank

trend +2

Record

28-26

Conference

East

Division