What's the Furthest the Indiana Pacers Have Ever Gone in the NBA Playoffs?

The Pacers have never won an NBA championship. How close have they come?

May 19, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts during the fourth quarter of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Pacers are off to a brilliant start in the 2025 NBA playoffs. After earning the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, they dominated the Milwaukee Bucks, winning their opening round series 4-1. Then they began the conference semifinals by beating the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers 121-112 in Game 1. They are well positioned to make a deep run.

The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2024 but were swept by the eventual champion Boston Celtics. The team now has a chance to make a similar run if it can get by the Cavs. It would be a heck of a story and add a positive chapter to the club's decidedly mixed playoff history.

Have the Pacers Ever Won an NBA Championship?

The Pacers have never won an NBA title. But prior to joining the NBA in 1976, they won three ABA championships. After their founding in 1967, the franchise quickly rose to the top of the ABA, winning three titles in a four season span.

In 1970, the Pacers topped the Los Angeles Stars in the ABA Finals in six games. In 1972, they were back in the finals, topping the New York Nets in six games. They went back-to-back in 1973, beating the Kentucky Colonels in a back-and-forth seven-game series.

What Is the Furthest the Pacers Have Gone in the NBA Playoffs?

Indiana is making its eighth appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers' last berth in this round came back in 2014, but the also made it in 2013, 2004, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1995 and 1994. They have one Eastern Conference title and it came in 2000.

The Pacers reached the NBA Finals in 2000 and faced Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers. It didn't go well for Indiana, as the Shaq-Kobe Lakers were about to begin a run of three consecutive championships.

Reggie Miller and his teammates lost the first two games of the series, came back to win Game 3 at home, then dropped Game 4 before taking Game 5. The Lakers closed out the series at home, winning 116-111 behind 41 points and 12 rebounds from O'Neal. The loss to LA had to sting for Pacers head coach Larry Bird, a former Boston Celtics great.

Indiana has not reached the NBA Finals since.

Pacers Playoff History

Playoff Result	Times Occurred	Last Year Occurred
Missed Postseason	20	2022-23
Play-in Tournament	0	Never participated
Lost in first round	17	2019-2020
Lost in Eastern Conf. Semifinals	2	2011-12
Lost in Eastern Conf. Finals	8	2023-24
Finals Appearance	1	1999-2000

The Pacers have been in the NBA for 48 years. In that time, they have missed the playoffs 20 times and been eliminated in the first round on 17 occasions. They have made eight appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals, but are 1-7 when they've been there. The lone Eastern Conference title game in 2000, when they beat the Knicks in six games.

Can the Pacers Win a Championship This Year?

The Pacers went 50-32 this season and certainly looked capable of making a playoff run. That said, they weren't considered a favorite to win a title. But if they knock off Cleveland, that perception will change.

Point guard Tyrese Haliburton is a legitimate star and averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 9.2 assists during the regular season. The team's other star is Pascal Siakam, who won an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors. He averaged 20.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game this season.

Indiana has the top-line stars and depth to win an NBA title, though it will take some upsets for the franchise to earn its first NBA championship.

---

More NBA on Sports Illustrated

feed