A history of struggle: this is the record Indiana Pacers in NBA conference semifinals
The Indiana Pacers are moving on to the second round of the NBA Playoffs tonight as they face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Indiana Pacers will begin their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. The Pacers ended their first round against the Milwaukee Bucks in an overtime victory in Game 5 on April 29. The Cavs swept the Miami Heat in four games, with their last on April 28.
Cleveland advanced with a 4-0 series win vs. Miami. Indiana moved on with a 4-1 defeat of Milwaukee. Now they meet in the East Semis.
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2025
Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers visit Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers for Game 1 tonight at 6:00pm/et on TNT! pic.twitter.com/YsYMDNk1zW
The Pacers have a balanced team this season with weapons on offense - both in the starting five and off the bench - as well as a dangerous defense. They have a challenge ahead against Cleveland though, as they’ve had the best offense in the NBA this season (and postseason).
Pacers’ history in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
The Indiana Pacers have made it to the NBA Conference Semifinals a total of 11 times, winning nine of the series, and hold a 40-25 all-time record in that round. Just last season, Indiana was in the Eastern Conference semifinals and beat the New York Knicks (4-3), but were swept and eliminated in the Conference finals by the Boston Celtics in the following round.
Last season’s playoff run was the furthest the Pacers had made it in the playoffs since 2013 and their first playoff run at all since 2019, when they went on a five-year streak of losing in the first round of the postseason.
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The Pacers are working against history in these playoffs as they are one of 10 NBA teams that has never won an NBA championship. They’re the only Central Division team without at least one title. Before the merger, they won three championships in the ABA Finals, but even that was back in the early 1970s. They have only appeared in one NBA Final, in the 1999-2000 season, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2.
Indiana Pacers’ postseason history since 1999
| Season | First Round | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | NBA Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-2000 | Won vs Bucks (3-2) | Won vs 76ers (4-2) | Won vs Knicks (4-2) | Lost vs Lakers (4-2) |
| 2000-01 | Lost vs 76ers (3–1) | |||
| 2001-02 | Lost vs Nets (3-2) | |||
| 2002-03 | Lost vs Celtics (4-2) | |||
| 2003-04 | Won vs Celtics (4-0) | Won vs Heat (4-2) | Lost vs Pistons (4-2) | |
| 2004-05 | Won vs Celtics (4-3) | Lost vs Pistons (4-2) | ||
| 2005-06 | Lost vs Nets (4-2) | |||
| 2006-07 | ||||
| 2007-08 | ||||
| 2008-09 | ||||
| 2009-10 | ||||
| 2010-11 | Lost vs Bulls (4-1) | |||
| 2011-12 | Won vs Magic (4-1) | Lost vs Heat (4-2) | ||
| 2012-13 | Won vs Hawks (4–2) | Won vs Knicks (4-2) | Lost vs Heat (4-3) | |
| 2013-14 | Won vs Hawks (4-3) | Won vs Wizards (4-2) | Lost vs Heat (4-2) | |
| 2014-15 | ||||
| 2015-16 | Lost vs Raptors (4-3) | |||
| 2016-17 | Lost vs Cavaliers (4-0) | |||
| 2017-18 | Lost vs Cavaliers (4-3) | |||
| 2018-19 | Lost vs Celtics (4-0) | |||
| 2019-20 | Lost vs Heat (4-0) | |||
| 2020-21 | ||||
| 2021-22 | ||||
| 2022-23 | ||||
| 2023-24 | Won vs Bucks (4-2) | Won vs Knicks (4-3) | Lost vs Celtics (4-0) |
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