August may be quiet in the NBA, but the schedule release always gives fans something to circle. For the Indiana Pacers, there are three dates that stand out above the rest - and all three carry their own kind of juice.
The biggest one is the opener at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, whenever the NBA slots it in. The opponent doesn’t even matter here.
After a season spent without their superstar point guard on the floor, Pacers fans are going to be waiting for Tyrese Haliburton like he’s been gone forever. This is the night to celebrate everything he’s meant to the team, and everything the team means to him.
That bond runs deep. Haliburton is one of the most beloved athletes in Indiana, right there with Caitlin Clark, and the feeling goes both ways.
He loves the city, he loves running this franchise, and he loves playing in front of this fan base. After the Pacers’ 2025 postseason run - a stretch that packed just about every emotion into one ride - the building is going to be ready to erupt.
When PA announcer Troy Pepper delivers the familiar introduction - "And at the other guard, in his 6th year in the NBA, a two-time All-Star, 6-5 from Iowa State wearing "O"....Tyreeeeeeeeese Haliburtoooooon," - the noise inside the arena should be unreal. That kind of return has movie-scene written all over it.
Another game that will draw plenty of attention is Indiana’s trip to New York. This rivalry doesn’t need any extra seasoning.
The Pacers and Knicks already know exactly how they feel about each other. Last season, New York finally got through the Eastern Conference and went on to beat the Spurs in 5 games to win an NBA Championship, while Indiana was stuck watching from home because injuries kept them out of the postseason.
Even with that title on the board, the Knicks still haven’t beaten the Pacers in a playoff series since 1999. Indiana owns that matchup, and even last season’s 19-63 Pacers team beat them at The Garden without Haliburton. MSG has earned its nickname as the Mecca of Basketball, and Haliburton has a habit of turning games there into a show.
Then there’s Indiana’s return to Oklahoma City. The Pacers handled business there last season with a 117-114 win, behind 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists from Andrew Nembhard and 26 points from Jarace Walker on 8-15 shooting. But this one is about more than the box score.
Haliburton did not want to go back to the place where he tore his Achilles. He asked to miss the game so his first return there would come in uniform, not street clothes.
When he finally steps back onto that court, it will carry plenty of weight. That floor has already seen one of his most clutch game-winning shots in NBA Finals history, along with the worst injury in NBA Finals history.
If he’s healthy and able to play, a win there would land among the Pacers’ best of the season.
In Other News...
Tyrese Haliburtons Latest Pacers Crossover Is Pure Tyrese Era Energy
The Pacers have spent the year feeling a little more plugged into the pop-culture conversation than most NBA teams, and Tyrese Haliburton has been right at the center of it. Rob49s 2025 single "WTHELLY," featuring G Herbo, picked up plenty of traction online while name-checking the All-Star, then started showing up in a more visible way around Indiana basketball, with the rapper eventually taking in Pacers games from courtside and the phrase finding its way into interviews with Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.
What makes the whole thing fit the Haliburton era is how naturally it has spilled beyond a one-off mention and into the teams everyday conversation. Pacers senior vice president Tyler Beadlescomb has been vocal about appreciating the songs reach, and John Haliburton has publicly backed it too, adding to the sense that this crossover has become part of the Pacers broader brand rather than just a passing novelty. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Starting Five Is Earning Hype They Now Have To Justify
The buzz around Indianas starting group has picked up in a big way, and it is not hard to see why. NBA analyst Greg Swartz recently slotted the Pacers projected first five fourth among league lineups after LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, pointing to a group that should have plenty of size, playmaking and scoring balance. The expected starters are Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac, a mix that gives Indiana a very different look entering next season.
Now comes the harder part: turning that optimism into proof on the floor. The Pacers have added more depth this offseason with Kelly Oubre Jr. and Larry Nance Jr., and the front office already paid a protected first-round pick to bring Zubac over from the Los Angeles Clippers. Hype is easy in July, but for a team drawing this much attention, the real challenge will be making sure the chemistry and production match the ranking once games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Have A Rotation Debate That Could Reshape Key Roles
The Pacers are heading into a rotation conversation that could shape more than just nightly substitutions. With five starters expected to log 35 or more minutes apiece, there simply is not much room left for the second unit, and the addition of Kelly Oubre Jr. only tightens a bench picture that already includes returning pieces like TJ McConnell and Obi Toppin.
What makes it trickier is how many players are fighting for the same sliver of court time. Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard are among the names trying to carve out a role, and both are restricted free agents next summer, which only adds another layer to the decision-making. For Indiana, this is less about filling minutes than sorting out which young players can still be part of the long-term picture when the rotation gets squeezed. [Read more 🡒]