Pacers vs. Wizards Preview: As the 2024-25 NBA regular season enters its final week, the Indiana Pacers find themselves in prime position to secure homecourt advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Riding a four-game winning streak, Indiana (47-31) will look to keep the momentum going Tuesday night when they host the struggling Washington Wizards (17-61) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
A win over Washington, combined with a Milwaukee Bucks (44-34) loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves (46-32), would clinch homecourt for Indiana, who currently sit fourth in the East with just four games remaining.
Red-Hot Pacers Eyeing Postseason Push
The Pacers enter Tuesday’s contest fresh off a hard-fought 125-120 road win over the defending champion Denver Nuggets. Despite being outshot 53.8 percent to 47.9 percent, Indiana’s perimeter shooting proved to be the difference, knocking down 15 three-pointers to Denver’s eight.
Six Pacers scored in double figures, led by Myles Turner with 24 points. Obi Toppin, filling in for injured All-Star Pascal Siakam, added 22 points. Andrew Nembhard (19 points) and Aaron Nesmith (17) also contributed significantly. The Pacers used a strong 18-7 run in the fourth quarter to create separation and held off a late Nuggets surge to secure the victory.
Indiana now stands just one win shy of matching last season’s 47-35 finish—and with four games left, they are poised to surpass that mark.
Wizards Battling Through Injuries and Growing Pains
While Indiana is surging, the Wizards are headed in the opposite direction. With only 17 wins this season, Washington has the second-worst record in the NBA, ahead of only the Utah Jazz (16-62). The team has lost five of its last six games and continues to be plagued by injuries.
In their most recent outing, the Wizards fell 124-90 to the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics. Rookie Alex Sarr, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, led Washington with 16 points. Jordan Poole and Justin Champagnie chipped in 15 apiece, but the Wizards were without eight players, including veterans Malcolm Brogdon, Saddiq Bey, and Corey Kispert.
Complete Control: Pacers Dominate Season Series
Indiana has won all three matchups against Washington this season, including a record-setting performance in the most recent clash. On March 27, the Pacers exploded for a franchise-high 162 points and 27 made 3-pointers in a 162-109 rout in D.C.
Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 29 points in just 25 minutes, connecting on 7-of-10 shots from beyond the arc. Indiana shot a staggering 64.1 percent from the field and recorded 48 assists as nine different players reached double figures. The Pacers also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Wizards 50-31.
Earlier in the season, Indiana picked up a 115-103 home win on Nov. 24, and a thrilling 134-130 overtime victory on Feb. 12.
If the Pacers win Tuesday, they’ll complete their first regular season sweep over Washington since the 2019-2020 campaign.
Players to Watch and Milestones Approaching
- Myles Turner needs just 5 points to reach 9,000 for his career. He would become the seventh player in franchise history to hit that milestone.
- Andrew Nembhard is 21 points away from reaching 2,000 career points.
- Tyrese Haliburton, averaging 18.5 points and 9.3 assists per game, continues to be the engine of Indiana’s offense.
- Jordan Poole leads the Wizards with 20.5 points per game, while Alex Sarr adds 13.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Injury Report
Pacers
- Pascal Siakam (right olecranon bursitis) – TBA
- Ben Sheppard (left great toe sprain) – TBA
- Isaiah Jackson (torn right Achilles) – Out for season
Wizards
- Saddiq Bey (left ACL surgery) – Out
- Malcolm Brogdon (left ankle sprain) – Out
- Bilal Coulibaly (right hamstring strain) – Out
- Kyshawn George (left ankle sprain) – Out
- Richaun Holmes (right shoulder contusion) – Out
- Corey Kispert (left thumb surgery) – Out
- Khris Middleton (right knee contusion) – Out
- Tristan Vukevic (left knee contusion) – Out
What’s Next
Following Tuesday’s matchup, the Pacers will face the first-place Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday in a nationally televised game on TNT. They’ll then host the Orlando Magic on Friday before closing the season Sunday with a rematch in Cleveland.
Projected Starters
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, Myles Turner
Wizards: Bub Carrington, Jordan Poole, AJ Johnson, Justin Champagnie, Alex Sarr
