Indiana Pacers season preview: Opening schedule, win projection and everything to know for 2026-27

The 2026-27 NBA season is here! Check out our team previews, including power rankings, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy advice.

East:Atlanta Hawks • Boston Celtics • Brooklyn Nets • Charlotte Hornets • Chicago Bulls • Cleveland Cavaliers • Detroit Pistons • Indiana Pacers • Miami Heat • Milwaukee Bucks • New York Knicks • Orlando Magic • Philadelphia 76ers • Toronto Raptors • Washington Wizards

West:Dallas Mavericks • Denver Nuggets • Golden State Warriors • Houston Rockets • LA Clippers • Los Angeles Lakers • Memphis Grizzlies • Minnesota Timberwolves • New Orleans Pelicans • Oklahoma City Thunder • Phoenix Suns • Portland Trail Blazers • Sacramento Kings • San Antonio Spurs • Utah Jazz

INDIANA PACERS2025-26 finish

Record: 19-63 (14th in the East, did not make the playoffs)

Offseason moves

Draft:Braden Smith (No. 38)

Signings:Kelly Oubre Jr. (2 years, $17 million), Larry Nance Jr. (1 year, $4 million)

Key departures: Kam Jones (traded to Bulls, signed with Bucks)

Current roster

Tyrese Haliburton warms up before a preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 7, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)AP Photo/Charlie NeibergallPreseason Power Rankings: No. 14

What's exciting: Aside from watching Tyrese Haliburton play basketball again, I cannot wait to see how this team operates with Ivica Zubac. There's a lot of talk about how they play fast and Zubac plays slow, but I couldn't disagree more. Zubac is a quick decision-maker in two-man actions and his low-post scoring adds a brand new layer to the offense. I just can't wait to see how Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle builds layers to this offense with all his new pieces.

What's concerning: I cannot fathom what the trauma feels like for a Pacers fan. One win from a championship, and Haliburton tears his Achilles. It's just brutal. So what scares me is the thought: What if that was it? All these new additions were made, Haliburton is back, but how can I let myself feel like this team actually can go all the way? I would hope Pacers fans, and certainly the players, just use it all as fuel. Because if the Pacers do make it all the way back, and if they end up winning it all, it would be one of the most glorious feelings any sports fan has ever felt.

Preseason Power Rankings: How all 30 teams stack up ahead of 2026-27

Fantasy watch

Um, Jarace Walker? He handed out 10 assists with one turnover in a team-high 28 minutes, easily the best playmaking game of his young career. His +18 also led the team in their win over the Wolves. He's firmly on my intrigued list because I don't know what to take from this. — Dan Titus

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2026-27 schedule

Opening week: 10/21 at Pelicans, 10/23 vs. Mavs

Complete schedule

Betting perspective

43.5 — win total

+350 to win division

+4000 to win NBA Finals

Best case, worst case

Best case: Top-4 seed

I think people should prepare for the possibility of Haliburton almost-immediately looking like himself, Pascal Siakam putting together another All-Star-worthy season, and Zubac putting himself back in All-Star and All-Defense conversations. Add in Andrew Nembhard being lower in the offensive hierarchy (and returning to All-Defense form in his own right) and a sneaky-fun reserve group … hey, man. Sleep on the Pacers if you'd like.

Worst case: Missing the playoffs

It's hard to stress how important Haliburton is to making all of this work, though. He's the one guard on the roster who can consistently draw the attention of multiple defenders and capitalize on any advantages that present themselves. If he's not right, the margin for error shrinks tremendously. And, again, I expect the East to be a bloodbath regardless. — Nekias Duncan

Read the full Central Division preview