The Pacers Post Up

Thanksgiving weekend brought something Pacers fans have been waiting for all season—a winning streak. Indiana took down the Wizards and then capped it with a wild buzzer-beater from Pascal Siakam to steal one against Chicago. We break down how Jay Huff’s insertion into the starting lineup has changed things on both ends, including his newfound status as the NBA’s shot-blocking leader. Plus, T.J. McConnell’s steady energy, improved defensive stretches, and what this mini-run means for the Pacers moving forward. A rare feel-good weekend for a team trying to claw back into relevance—let’s talk about it.

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The Pacers suffered a brutal Thanksgiving Eve loss in Toronto, falling 97–95 on a Brandon Ingram buzzer beater after clawing their way back from a massive deficit. Indiana surrendered a staggering 22–0 Raptors run spanning the second and third quarters, yet still showed real resilience by battling back to give themselves a chance in the final moments. With Nembhard, Mathurin, and Siakam struggling to find rhythm, TJ McConnell stepped up in a major way, finishing with 16 points, 6 assists, and 7 rebounds in one of his best all-around games of the season. Jay Huff continued his strong stretch, while Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard bounced back with much-improved shooting nights. But in the end, it wasn’t enough. The Pacers fall to 2–16, now holding the worst record in the NBA outright, and head into the holiday break searching for answers — and a spark as they head home for 4 straight.

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The Pacers dropped their 15th game of the season in a 122–117 loss to the red-hot Pistons, who extended their win streak to 13 and remain atop the Eastern Conference. Indiana surrendered 71 first-half points but responded with one of their best stretches of the year, outscoring Detroit by 11 in the second half and giving themselves a real chance late. Jarace Walker delivered a true breakout, scoring a career-high 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting and 5-of-6 from three, finally snapping out of his offensive slump. TJ McConnell also looked the best he has all season, dropping 16 points on 8-of-12 as he finds his rhythm after injury. Despite the loss and the 2–15 record, this was one of the most encouraging performances of the season — and a real sign that things might finally be trending upward.

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The Pacers fall 120–109 to Cleveland, dropping to 0–2 in the In-Season Tournament and officially eliminated from the knockout round. Indiana’s big three of Andrew Nembhard, Ben Mathurin, and Pascal Siakam carried the offensive load, each delivering standout nights. But outside of those three, the supporting cast struggled to put the ball in the basket, and the Cavs’ balanced attack proved too much. Brad and Ryan break down the loss, discuss why the center rotation continues to be a glaring issue, and explore potential trade targets that could stabilize the position. We also dive into where Andrew Nembhard stacks up among the East’s elite guards — including Darius Garland — and why his rise has become one of the season’s biggest storylines.

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The Pacers delivered their most complete performance of the season, securing win No. 2 against a young Hornets squad. Indiana finally broke through offensively—shooting over 50% from the field for the first time this year and drilling 16 threes at 42%. Six players scored in double figures, with three topping 20 points, but the headliner was Jay Huff, who posted his first 20-point game as a Pacer, splashed four threes, and threw down a massive third-quarter dunk. Bennedict Mathurin continued his strong return to action with a 7-of-13 night and a season-best 12 rebounds. Ryan and Brad break down how this was the Pacers’ most well-rounded effort yet, what’s finally clicking offensively, and what this performance could mean moving forward.

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In this episode, we break down the Pacers’ tough road loss in Detroit as Indiana falls to 1–13 on the season. Benedict Mathurin returned to action with a massive fourth-quarter surge, reminding fans of the spark he brings to the lineup. Isaiah Jackson delivered an inspired performance in his Detroit homecoming, flashing energy and efficiency throughout the night. But Jalen Duren and the Pistons’ overwhelming physicality controlled the paint from start to finish, ultimately proving too much for the Pacers to handle. We dive into the key runs, standout performances, what went wrong, and what this means for Indiana moving forward.

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Brad and Ryan break down a brutal night in Salt Lake City as the Pacers surrender the most points allowed by any NBA team this season — and the fourth-most in Jazz franchise history — in a lopsided loss that showcased the Pacers worst defensive effort of the season. Indiana actually opened the game on a sharp 10–0 run and led 20–10, but from that moment on, Utah simply couldn’t miss, and the Pacers defensive effort evaporated.

A new-look starting lineup offered mixed results, with newly re-signed Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (on a hardship deal) making his first start in place of the struggling Jarace Walker, and Tony Bradley filling in for Isaiah Jackson. Offensively, there were positives — Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam were strong, the Pacers shot their best percentage of the season, and turnovers stayed in single digits — but none of it mattered with the level of defensive breakdowns that had Rick Carlisle visibly frustrated postgame.

The guys close by previewing the final stop of the road trip: a Thursday matchup with the Suns in Phoenix, where Indy will try to salvage something before heading home.

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Brad goes solo breaking down a tough West Coast start as the Pacers drop back-to-back games against the Nuggets and Warriors, continuing what’s become a historically bad shooting start to the season. He dives into the numbers behind Indiana’s struggles from deep and the field, what Andrew Nembhard’s return could mean for stabilizing the offense, and how the constant injuries have impacted rhythm and rotations. Despite the cold shooting and mounting frustration, there’s still opportunity on the horizon — as the blue and gold prepare to face a young Utah Jazz squad on the second night of a back-to-back while debuting their new City Edition uniforms!

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Brad and Ryan preview Sunday night’s matchup between the Pacers and Warriors, as Indiana looks to stay undefeated at the Chase Center. Golden State will be looking for payback after last week’s loss in Indy, and Steph Curry — who missed Friday’s game in Denver with an illness — is expected to return. The guys dive into what it’ll take for the Pacers to keep pace on the second night of a back-to-back, why limiting the Warriors from deep is non-negotiable, and who needs to find the hot hand offensively. They also react to Jimmy Butler’s “G League” jab at the Pacers’ injury-riddled roster, and share a few thoughts on Draymond Green’s never-ending delusion tour. It’s all about energy, pace, and pride as the blue and gold head west to take on the aging dynasty.

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Brad and Ryan preview tonight’s matchup between the Pacers and the Denver Nuggets — and the challenge of slowing down three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who’s leading the league in both rebounds and assists while piloting the NBA’s highest-scoring offense. Denver enters on the second night of a back-to-back, but Indiana’s own injury list remains long, leaving their center rotation with its toughest test yet. The guys discuss what it’ll take to contain Jokic, where the Pacers can find offensive rhythm, and whether newly added playmaker Monte Morris — making a homecoming of sorts against his former team — can help steady the offense and spark a much-needed win to kick off the Pacers West Coast swing.

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