Indiana Pacers riding high of Monday's win as they prepare for In-Season Tournament Semifinals
LAS VEGAS — The Indiana Pacers are in the Entertainment Capital of the World ahead of their In-Season Tournament Semifinal game on Thursday. The Pacers take on the Milwaukee Bucks at 5 pm EST tomorrow at T Mobile Arena.
For the Pacers, it's another chance to show how threatening they can be. At their finest, they have taken down the best of the best around the league. Their peak came on Monday, beating the Boston Celtics in a quarterfinal match. Indiana knows they can beat anyone — they also have wins over Milwaukee, Cleveland, Miami, and Philadelphia this season.
At the same time, they have losses to Charlotte, Chicago, Toronto, and Portland — all at home. Amid all the Pacers impressive wins, they have some frustrating losses. That's why they hope to ride their high in Vegas and keep rolling through elite teams. They want to prove that the valleys are the fluke, not the peaks.
"The team is in a great state of mind. Really optimistic, opportunistic group that is looking forward to this opportunity," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said just after the clock read noon in Vegas. His team held a morning practice in the arena.
During that session, they got their first taste of the new court they will be playing on in the Semifinals. It's red and blue — the NBA's colors — and looks like many of the other In-Season Tournament courts. The theater lighting on the court is dramatic — the ambiance makes it feel like a big game.
The Pacers are ready for it. They've felt the buzz directed toward them this week. After beating Boston on Monday to reach this point, and doing so in front of a bigger audience, they are riding a high.
"Yeah, for sure. How do you not feel the buzz? We've all got social media, stuff like that. Like we talked about all year, the better we play, the more love we're going to get, and you've got to take that in stride but understand that can be a poison to a sense at the same time," star guard Tyrese Haliburton said. He craved an opportunity like the one he had on Monday. "You've still got to do what you do and approach the game the same and just play Pacer basketball at the end of the day."
Managing that middle ground is crucial for the Pacers this week. They've earned the attention they are getting thanks to some great outings this season. Fans are attracted to their record-setting offense. There is no doubt any more that Indiana is on the rise and has a bright future.
For Indiana's players, though, they have goals to win right now. The In-Season Tournament is a chance to show that they already belong in the discussions concerning teams that will be playoff bound. The future may be bright, but they are interested in the present.
"I think it's going to be really cool for the exposure just for our organization, more national exposure at that. Yeah, I've got no complaints. Be able to get in, get the body acclimated a little bit and get ready to go tomorrow," Pacers center Myles Turner said of the Las Vegas experience.
Turner's team will be on ESPN tomorrow for the first, and perhaps only, time this season. He's been to the postseason before with the blue and gold, but the franchise hasn't reached the playoffs since 2020.
That's why they aren't on national TV much, and why they are thought of as an ascending team rather than a present-day winner. But they have a chance this week to change that perception.
"It's an exciting moment for our team," Haliburton said.
The setup in Las Vegas is glitzy. There is signage everywhere around the arena and a large plaza full of events for the public outside. The win-or-go-home environment adds suspense, even though players have acknowledged that things do feel a little different since the season doesn't end if there's a loss. Many players have likened things to a playoff atmosphere.
That experience will be significant for Indiana. "Well, our game Monday certainly had that feel. The two games I watched last night on television certainly appeared to have that," Carlisle said when asked to compare the In-Season Tournament games to a playoff setting. "Coming now to a neutral venue, it remains to be seen exactly how it's going to be. I do expect some buzz."
Carlisle loves the setup in Vegas and thinks it will lead to competitive play. Haliburton agrees. He feels the juice created by the environment. It all adds to the mood of the game, and it makes it that much more important that Indiana is focused today and tomorrow.
"Vegas is Vegas," Turner said.
The players, and the coaches, are playing for money, too. They all think that's cool, and Haliburton said he would treat his teammates to something nice with his winnings. But they want something more. They are motivated by other things than cash.
"Everybody in the NBA is elite competitors and wants to win, so I think that's what it comes down to at the end of the day," Haliburton said. He's tired of losing. "It's not like there necessarily needs to be an external reward. It's about winning. We're all great competitors."
The Pacers have a lot in front of them between pride, money, and a chance to prove they belong. Amid the bright lights of Las Vegas, they're focused on keeping their momentum from Monday and proving they are among the league's best teams.
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