Pacers Ride Another Hot Streak with Another Impressive Win Over Playoff-Level Team

Extending past the eight-game stretch, the Pacers have victories against the Houston Rockets and two over the Los Angeles Clippers, signifying another interconference sweep of the 2024-25 regular season. 

For critics and analysts to perceive the Pacers as a serious postseason contender, beating such winning teams bodes well for their 2024-25 campaign resume. 

Although the Pacers clinched an Eastern Conference Finals berth in 2024, many skeptics point to the Milwaukee Bucks, which didn't have Giannis Antetokounmpo, among other injury issues in their first-round series against the Rick Carlisle-coached team in Indiana. 

However, the Pacers' 115-114 victory over the Bucks sensed a playoff atmosphere. The tense night ended with Tyrese Haliburton's heroics, as he hit a four-point play over Antetokounmpo on a play last run in the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics.

Indiana has potential, as its 15th-ranked defensive rating is a nine-place improvement from the following season. 

Although the Pacers made the Eastern Conference Finals, they couldn't get stops when it mattered most against the Celtics, and Haliburton's injury hindered the team.

Now, with a healthy Haliburton and a better defense, the Pacers are primed to beat legitimate NBA teams, and perhaps such a track record will translate to the 2025 playoffs.