Indiana Pacers prepping for important final weekend with playoff berth on the line

The Pacers could clinch a playoff spot this weekend

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers enter the final weekend of the season with a chance to reach the postseason for the first time in four years. It's a goal the team has held for a while, with star guard Tyrese Haliburton making that clear last May.

"I need to be in there, I need to be in the playoffs. That's the goal," Haliburton said at the 2023 NBA Draft lottery.

Now, the Pacers look forward to their last two games with a chance to clinch a playoff berth. And the scenarios are simple. If Indiana wins once — they play in Cleveland tonight against the Cavaliers and then at home Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks — they will be in the Eastern Conference postseason field. They could go 0-2 and still make it if the Orlando Magic win once and the Philadelphia 76ers lose once (and those teams face off tonight). There are many ways for the blue and gold to go forward.

The important thing is that the Pacers control their own destiny. If they win, they'll be in the field of 16 teams that comprise the first round. "It's exciting," Haliburton said of the situation. "I think that the beautiful part is that it's in front of us."

What seed Indiana ends up with is to be determined. They could still end up anywhere from three to eight depending on the results that take place around the NBA in the next few days. Some of it is out of their hands, but they can control their own destiny to be as high as the fifth seed if things go their way.

The Pacers also can't, and likely won't, know who they play in the first round — should they make it — until Sunday. They can't think about that. What they can manage is taking care of business and winning to reach the playoffs.

"We can't look ahead. We've got two games left. It's just a different animal," Pacers guard T.J. McConnell said yesterday. "I think... These two games should be treated as playoff games heading into the playoffs."

McConnell's mindset is what the team needs. They play the Cavs in a win-and-get-in game Friday. If they lose, they'll play another game of that variety. If they lose that one and get no help, they'll be in the seven seed vs eight seed game in the Play-In Tournament, a third win-and-get-in opportunity. If they lose that, they'll be in the losers bracket of the In-Season Tournament with a fourth chance to win and reach the playoffs. They have four chances to win a single time.

But they should want to avoid the Play-In Tournament, which is why McConnell is correct that every game needs to be treated like a playoff game. Reaching the postseason outright is a huge benefit and guarantees a series, something vital to the progression of the blue and gold.

"If you can avoid it, you want to be a top-six seed," Haliburton said of dodging the Play-In Tournament. "We want to be in the playoffs, we don't want to be in the Play-In... that was our goal from the jump... that's our main focus."

The task at hand is simple, yet the execution will be difficult. Cleveland and Atlanta aren't going to just roll over and let the Pacers into the playoffs — they'll have to earn it by sticking to their processes and remaining focused.

This Pacers team has been good at keeping their locker room light all season and enjoying the moment they are in. It's a trait that allows them to be who they are. This weekend, they'll need to blend that vibe with a locked in tone. Pressure is here for the blue and gold as they look to grab a final win or two.

"Usually, a lot of things come down to the last day. There can be a lot of movement. We're just focused on one hour at a time. Preparation today and getting ready for tomorrow," head coach Rick Carlisle said Thursday.

The Pacers had fake crowd noise at their practice yesterday and even had players standings in the lane between free throw shooters and the basket. They are trying to simulate the difficulty of the environment coming on Friday and Sunday in any way possible. They need every edge they can get.

That's because of the stakes involved. One more win, and the Indiana Pacers will be playoff bound.

• Tyrese Haliburton sets Indiana Pacers single-season franchise assist record on a night the Pacers needed him. CLICK HERE.
• The Pacers needed to be clutch and to win vs Miami Heat to keep playoff hopes alive. They got it done. CLICK HERE.
• T.J. McConnell is reaching a new offensive peak and guiding Indiana Pacers to wins. CLICK HERE.
• Indiana Pacers overcome slow start to take down Toronto Raptors on the road. CLICK HERE.
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