Indiana Pacers season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

The Indiana Pacers are poised to return as NBA championship contenders after a one-year hiatus following the Achilles injury suffered by star Tyrese Haliburton in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. But Haliburton is set to make his long-awaited comeback to start the 2026-27 season, and the Pacers are a leading candidate to make a dramatic jump in the standings.

Haliburton will have a new center to play with after Indiana acquired Ivica Zubac at last February’s trade deadline and mostly kept him under wraps as the franchise chose to position itself for a lottery pick. The strategy backfired; the selection fell just outside the top-four protected range and the No. 5 pick was conveyed to the Los Angeles Clippers.

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The Pacers should nonetheless be in the playoff mix again, with much of the core that won the Eastern Conference finals less than 16 months ago still intact. If Haliburton is healthy enough to once again be one of the NBA’s best playmakers, Indiana will quickly re-emerge as a title threat.

Here’s a breakdown of the Indiana Pacers’ offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

INDIANA PACERS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season

Record last season: 19-63 (14th in Eastern Conference)

Playoff finish: Did not qualify

Coach: Rick Carlisle, 6th season

2026-27 title odds: +6600 (per BetMGM)

Key roster additions

Key roster losses

Biggest question entering training camp

Can Tyrese Haliburton return to all-NBA form?

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Haliburton missed the entire 2025-26 season rehabbing from an Achilles injury and also dealt with a frustrating case of shingles that slowed his recovery. He appeared to be at the peak of his powers before getting hurt, hitting game-winning shots and orchestrating Indiana’s high-powered offense throughout its run to the 2025 NBA Finals. Advances in Achilles rehabilitation and Haliburton’s diverse skill set provide reasons for optimism, but last season only reinforced that the Pacers are counting on him to remain a franchise star. Indiana’s roster is built around Haliburton’s ability to create shots for himself, and his ability to bounce back…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/indiana-pacers-season-preview-lineup-094035582.html

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Publish date : 2026-09-22 09:40:00

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