After making it to the Eastern Conference Finals in a surprise run last season, the Indiana Pacers were expected to make it back to the postseason, and on Tuesday night, with the Atlanta Hawks losing to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Pacers have officially clinched a playoff spot.
Indiana currently occupies the fourth spot in the standings, which is good enough to have home-court advantage in the first round, although they haven't yet clinched that spot.
There are a few different scenarios that could realistically happen in the final seven games, and the postseason could be vastly different than it is now depending on how the end of the year plays out.
If the playoffs were to start now, the Pacers would host the Detroit Pistons in the first round. However, Detroit is only two games behind the Pacers and could, in theory, swap spots with them and earn home court. The Milwaukee Bucks, who own the sixth seed, are three games behind the Pacers but have clinched the tie-breaker over Indiana already.
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On a positive note, the New York Knicks, who own the third seed, are four games ahead of the Pacers. That said, Indiana has a relatively easy schedule to end their season, and the Knicks have to play the Cleveland Cavaliers twice and the Boston Celtics once, who they are a combined 0-5 against this season.
However, if the Pacers move up a spot, they will most likely have to play the Bucks in the first round. Granted, they will have home-court advantage, but they are 1-3 against the Bucks this season.
Considering that they are 3-1 against the Pistons, the most ideal result is the most likely: everything remains the same.
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This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 3:11 PM.