Indiana Pacers under Rick Carlisle aim for NBA glory in playoffs

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — The Indiana Pacers, under the guidance of former Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, are making waves in the NBA playoffs. After a solid start to the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pacers secured a 121-112 victory in game one on April 27, 2025.

Led by Carlisle, the Pacers have shown they are a force to reckon with this postseason. They entered the playoffs after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks with ease, further proving their competitiveness. Carlisle, with a rich playoff history, achieved a personal milestone with his 76th playoff win as a head coach, moving him past Chuck Daly into 14th place on the all-time list.

“Every win counts in the playoffs, and our team is playing with confidence,” Carlisle said. “We’ve worked hard to be where we are this season.” The Pacers finished the regular season with 50 wins, their best record since the 2013-14 season, and are looking to build on that success.

During his previous tenure with the Mavericks from 2008 to 2021, Carlisle made history by leading the team to its only NBA Championship in 2011, defeating the Miami Heat. That year, Dirk Nowitzki was named Finals MVP after averaging 26 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

“Returning to the playoffs brings back memories of that championship run,” Carlisle reflected. “I’m excited for this group and what we can achieve.” The Pacers have qualified for consecutive playoff seasons, solidifying their status as a competitive team in the Eastern Conference.

The next game against the Cavaliers is set for 7:00 p.m. on TNT, and Carlisle hopes to continue climbing the playoff wins leaderboard. As the season progresses, the Pacers appear to be a team not to underestimate.