The Indiana Pacers are entering a season filled with opportunity. Last year they showed the league flashes of what they can become and now they want to prove they belong in the conversation with the best in the East.
Tyrese Haliburton will not be playing for much of the year or any of the season after going down in the 2025 NBA Finals, but this roster is deeper than people give it credit for and the stage is set for a group that can step up and surprise.
With the schedule stacked with rivalries, superstar battles, and statement games, these are the ones you need to circle.
Oct 23 vs Oklahoma City
The champs come to Indy right out of the gate. What better way to launch a season than with the defending title holders in your building.
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- 2. Nov 1 vs Golden State
The Warriors are still dangerous with Steph Curry leading the charge. It is a perfect early-season test for Indiana’s defense and intensity.
- 3. Nov 3 vs Milwaukee
Giannis brings the fire every time he faces Indiana. Division rivalries matter and this one is always physical and playoff-like.
- 4. Nov 8 at Denver
Taking on Jokic and the Nuggets on the road is one of the toughest challenges in the league. This game will show how much fight Indiana has against the best in the West.
- 5. Dec 18 vs New York
The Knicks and Pacers feel like rivals again and now New York has a new coaching staff bringing a different style. Every time these two meet the energy rises and the crowd will be ready to make this one loud.
- 6. Dec 22 at Boston
The Celtics might not have Jayson Tatum but they still feature Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard. Combine that with a front office always looking to add and this matchup has the feel of a heavyweight battle in the East.
- 7. Jan 12 vs Boston
Boston comes to Indy just a few weeks later. This is the home chance to prove that the Pacers are not just climbing, they are ready to take the spotlight.
- 8. Feb 6 at Milwaukee
Another showdown with Giannis and the Bucks, this time in Milwaukee. By February these games feel heavy with seeding on the line.
- 9. Mar 13 vs New York
The Knicks return to Indy with that new coaching staff still shaping their identity. Late in the season this game could decide who finishes higher in the standings. Expect playoff intensity.
- 10. Mar 25 vs Los Angeles
LeBron James comes to Indiana and this could be his last matchup in the Fieldhouse. Anytime he plays, it is a spectacle and the late-season stakes only add to the drama.
The Pacers enter 2025-26 with something to prove. Without Haliburton after his Finals injury they will need to lean on depth, toughness, and collective effort. The East is there for the taking once again and Indiana still has the talent to make a run.
These 10 games are the ones where the Pacers can show the league who they really are and remind fans that this franchise is built for the big stage.
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