In the Eastern Conference part of the bracket, the Pacers beat the favored Boston Celtics to set up a clash against the Bucks, who easily handled the New York Knicks in the quarterfinals.

The Western Conference semifinals game will see the Pelicans face the Lakers. The Pelicans beat the Sacramento Kings, while the Lakers overcame the Phoenix Suns in a thrilling contest.

The semifinal matches will be played at Las Vegas ‘Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on December 7. The Pacers and the Bucks play their game at 5:00 PM ET, and the Pelicans meet the Lakers at 9:00 PM ET. The championship game will also take place two days later, also in Las Vegas.

The winner of the NBA In-Season Tournament will get to lift the NBA Cup trophy. Also, every player on the team’s roster will receive a $500,000 check.

Out of the four teams in the semifinals, the Bucks own the best record at 15-6 and have won eight of their last 10 games. The Lakers are 13-9, enough for the fourth spot on the Western Conference standings. The Pacers are 11-8, while the Pelicans own a 12-10 record.

The post NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinals to Feature Pacers vs. Bucs, Pelicans vs. Lakers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

After grabbing a game-opening jump ball that was tipped in his direction by the Cavs’ center Jarrett Allen, Hield handed the Pacers a 3-0 lead after just three seconds. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, this is the fastest three-point shot made in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97), thereby surpassing the previous record held by Hall of Famer Reggie Miller by one second. Miller scored with 11:56 left of the opening quarter during a March 5, 2000, game against the Golden State Warriors.

In addition to setting a personal record, Hield also provided his team with the momentum they needed to race to a significant lead over the Cavs. The Pacers’ 135 points on the night are the team’s highest tally for the season.

Hield is currently the league leader in three-pointers as well as the first player in Pacers history with 60 or more three-pointers in a calendar month. He finished the game with 25 points behind 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range.

The post Pacers’ Buddy Hield Breaks Record With Three-Second Shot appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Turner has been out since January, dealing with a stress fracture in his left foot. He progressed well in recent weeks, but it didn’t make sense to rush the 26-year-old player back on the court with the Pacers’ season already over.

According to Pacers’ President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard, both the team and the player believe it is best if he continues focusing on his rehab.

“We will continue to work closely with Myles, and we’re looking forward to his return to the court at full strength next season,” Pritchard explained.

Despite being on the verge of leaving the franchise on multiple occasions, it appears that the Pacers now view Myles Turner as one of their cornerstone players. The key event that made Indiana change their mind regarding Turner was the departure of All-Star Domantas Sabonis ahead of the trade deadline. With Sabonis out of the building, Turner can be the only big man on the court at all times, which should help him reach his full potential.

Turner averaged 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks in 42 games he played this season.

The post Indiana Pacers Shut Down Center Myles Turner for the Remainder of the Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Brogdon is entering the third year of the four-year, $85 million deal he inked in 2019 with the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the sign-and-trade deal that sent him to the Pacers. The added two years are worth $45 million, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Pacers confirmed the news on their social media while also posting a video of Brogdon talking about how much the extension means to him.

Since coming to Indiana, Brogdon has been one of the more reliable guards in the league. He has been a consistent and efficient performer for the Pacer in the past two seasons and is often their best player on the court.

Brogdon was particularly stellar in 2020-21, averaging career-high 21.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He also had 5.9 assists while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 38.8 percent beyond the three-point arc.

In a statement issued to media following the news of Brogdon’s extension, the Pacers president of basketball operations, Kevin Pritchard, called the player “a very important part of our organization” while praising “the character he displays” off the court.

“He has become one of our undisputed leaders, continually supporting his teammates and setting them up for success, while also demonstrating the drive, dedication, and work ethic necessary to establish himself as one of the premier guards in the NBA,” Pritchard added.

The post Pacers Add 2 More Years to Malcolm Brogdon’s Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

5. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers might have been well out of the top five before the season started, but they certainly belong here after a commanding 4-0 start to their season.

4. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers have looked wishy-washy over the last few years, oftentimes looking like an Eastern Conference juggernaut, only to later appear fickle with no direction. Still, after a solid offseason—which included acquiring a revitalized Dwight Howard—and winning their first two games, could this be the year they finally go all the way?

3. Milwaukee Bucks

They might’ve lost in a hard-fought battle with the Boston Celtics on opening night, but then they came back with a 39-point blowout over the Golden State Warriors. Milwaukee still has a lot to prove when it comes to playoff action, but if their regular season is anything like last year’s, look for them to climb these power rankings with ease.

2. Brooklyn Nets

Kevin Durant is back, and he’s looking exactly like the Kevin Durant we all know and love. Is there anything else that needs to be said? Oh yeah—when Kyrie Irving is your second-best player, you know you’re going to be a serious problem for other teams.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

Being the defending champs and all, the Lakers receive the benefit of the doubt when it comes to power rankings. It also helps that they got better over the offseason, picking up reigning sixth man of the year Montrezl Harrell, runner-up Dennis Schroder, and veteran Marc Gasol. Sure, they lost to the Clippers in a sluggish first game, but the way they dismantled the Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks in game two with absolute ease reminded us all that they’re the team to beat this year.

The post NBA Power Rankings: Getting Our First Look appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Gordon, who signed a four-year contract with the Celtics worth a total price of $127 million in 2017, has a $32.4 million player option going into the 2020-21 NBA season.

According to Ian Begley of SNY: “Something to keep an eye on once we find out when NBA teams can start making trades: some within the Pacers organization continue to have interest in trading for Celtics’ Gordon Hayward.”

A previous report from ESPN’s Tim Bontemps agreed with this sentiment, further informing that Hayward is likely to exercise his player option this offseason. This belief is largely based on Hayward’s age of 30 years, along with his recent injury history.

Should he exercise the option, not only will he receive a hefty $34 million, but he will also have the choice to audition for another contract next offseason, either with the Celtics or another NBA franchise.

Should Hayward turn down the option in favor of a new deal in free agency, the Pacers might be inclined to make a move for this player.

The post Pacers Eye Celtics’ Gordon Hayward, Reports Suggest appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Prior to his time at the Raptors, Bjorkgren was the assistant coach of the Phoenix Suns from 2015 to 2017. Before that, he was a coach in the NBA G League, leading the likes of Iowa Energy, the Santa Cruz Warriors, and Bakersfield Jam. In 2011, he won the G League title with Iowa, while making it to the G League Finals with Santa Cruz just two years later.

The decision to hire Bjorkgren comes just weeks after the Pacers dismissed the previous coach Nate McMillan after seven years of service (three as an assistant coach and four as head coach). During his time as Pacers’ coach, McMillan took the team to the NBA Playoffs in each of his first four seasons in charge. He racked up a 183-136 record in Indiana.

With the Pacers failing to make the NBA Playoffs in 2020, Bjorkgren will be tasked with returning this team to their former glory.

The post Pacers to Hire Bjorkgren as Head Coach appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While the final number will depend on several factors, it is believed that the max-contract for Oladipo would include a four-year deal worth around $112.8 million. Indiana wasn’t ready to commit that kind of money so far, having made a lower offer to the 28-year-old player last season. 

Oladipo is definitely a max-contract player when he’s at his best. But the problem for Pacers is that he wasn’t at his best or even played a lot since coming to Indiana.

In the first season with Pacers in 2017/18, Victor Oladipo played lights out, earning his first All-Star appearance, All-NBA selection, and the award for NBA’s Most Improved Player. The following season also started well for Oladipo, but he ended up rupturing the quad tendon in his right knee that sidelined him for more than a year.

Oladipo returned to court in late January but hasn’t looked like the same player since. He only averaged 14.5 points during 19 games in the 2019/20 regular season, although the numbers slightly went up during the playoffs.

This slow return reportedly worried Pacers enough to start listening to trade offers for Oladipo. So far, New York Knicks and LA Lakers emerged as potential suitors, although Boston Celtics are also believed to be monitoring the situation.

The post Pacers’ Victor Oladipo Looking to Get a Max-Contract Next Year appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Billups, who retired in 2014, doesn’t have coaching experience but has remained involved in basketball working as an analyst. He also had opportunities to work in the front office in the past couple of years, being offered a general manager position with Cleveland Cavaliers, but would reportedly rather be an NBA coach.

Wojnarowski reports that the Pacers want Billups because he fits the mold of their previous coaches like Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas, both NBA champions and known for their leadership qualities.

The contacts between Indiana Pacers and Chauncey Billups are believed to be in the early stages, and the organization is expected to take time evaluating other candidates. Also, the outcome of the talks will most likely depend on in-depth interviews between two sides, which will show whether Billups and Indiana share the same ambitions and philosophy.

In case Billups doesn’t land a job with Pacers, he still might get to have a coaching job next season. Reportedly, Billups has a verbal agreement to join Ty Lue as an assistant if the former Cavaliers’ head coach lands a new coaching gig this summer.

Billups played for seven different teams during his NBA career but saw his biggest successes with Pistons with whom he won the NBA title in 2004. He is also a five-time All-Star and has three All-NBA selections. 

The post Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups Leading Candidate for Pacers’ Head Coaching Job appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Several weeks ago, Oladipo said that his decision on going to Orlando will mostly depend on his physical ability. The 28-year-old guard was previously sidelined with a knee injury for more than a year and only returned to action in January.

According to sources, Pacers are confident that they’ll have their best player on the team for the rest of 2019/20 and have made him part of their travel list. However, Oladipo himself told reporters on Wednesday that he still hasn’t made the final decision.

“I haven’t made a decision just yet. Just taking it one day at a time,” said Oladipo. “I feel like when the day comes, I’ll know. I appreciate my teammates and this organization for backing me and supporting me with whatever decision I make, but at the same time, I’m focused on me getting as strong as possible and getting where I’m at.”

Despite their optimism, Pacers reportedly didn’t pressure Oladipo and have informed the player that they will support him regardless of the choice he makes. Also, the organization didn’t set any deadlines for him to make the final decision.

Since coming back from injury, Victor Oladipo played 13 games in which he averaged 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.

The post Pacers’ Victor Oladipo on NBA Resume: “I Haven’t Made a Decision Just Yet” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

In the Eastern Conference part of the bracket, the Pacers beat the favored Boston Celtics to set up a clash against the Bucks, who easily handled the New York Knicks in the quarterfinals.

The Western Conference semifinals game will see the Pelicans face the Lakers. The Pelicans beat the Sacramento Kings, while the Lakers overcame the Phoenix Suns in a thrilling contest.

The semifinal matches will be played at Las Vegas ‘Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on December 7. The Pacers and the Bucks play their game at 5:00 PM ET, and the Pelicans meet the Lakers at 9:00 PM ET. The championship game will also take place two days later, also in Las Vegas.

The winner of the NBA In-Season Tournament will get to lift the NBA Cup trophy. Also, every player on the team’s roster will receive a $500,000 check.

Out of the four teams in the semifinals, the Bucks own the best record at 15-6 and have won eight of their last 10 games. The Lakers are 13-9, enough for the fourth spot on the Western Conference standings. The Pacers are 11-8, while the Pelicans own a 12-10 record.

The post NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinals to Feature Pacers vs. Bucs, Pelicans vs. Lakers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

After grabbing a game-opening jump ball that was tipped in his direction by the Cavs’ center Jarrett Allen, Hield handed the Pacers a 3-0 lead after just three seconds. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, this is the fastest three-point shot made in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97), thereby surpassing the previous record held by Hall of Famer Reggie Miller by one second. Miller scored with 11:56 left of the opening quarter during a March 5, 2000, game against the Golden State Warriors.

In addition to setting a personal record, Hield also provided his team with the momentum they needed to race to a significant lead over the Cavs. The Pacers’ 135 points on the night are the team’s highest tally for the season.

Hield is currently the league leader in three-pointers as well as the first player in Pacers history with 60 or more three-pointers in a calendar month. He finished the game with 25 points behind 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range.

The post Pacers’ Buddy Hield Breaks Record With Three-Second Shot appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Turner has been out since January, dealing with a stress fracture in his left foot. He progressed well in recent weeks, but it didn’t make sense to rush the 26-year-old player back on the court with the Pacers’ season already over.

According to Pacers’ President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard, both the team and the player believe it is best if he continues focusing on his rehab.

“We will continue to work closely with Myles, and we’re looking forward to his return to the court at full strength next season,” Pritchard explained.

Despite being on the verge of leaving the franchise on multiple occasions, it appears that the Pacers now view Myles Turner as one of their cornerstone players. The key event that made Indiana change their mind regarding Turner was the departure of All-Star Domantas Sabonis ahead of the trade deadline. With Sabonis out of the building, Turner can be the only big man on the court at all times, which should help him reach his full potential.

Turner averaged 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks in 42 games he played this season.

The post Indiana Pacers Shut Down Center Myles Turner for the Remainder of the Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Brogdon is entering the third year of the four-year, $85 million deal he inked in 2019 with the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the sign-and-trade deal that sent him to the Pacers. The added two years are worth $45 million, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Pacers confirmed the news on their social media while also posting a video of Brogdon talking about how much the extension means to him.

Since coming to Indiana, Brogdon has been one of the more reliable guards in the league. He has been a consistent and efficient performer for the Pacer in the past two seasons and is often their best player on the court.

Brogdon was particularly stellar in 2020-21, averaging career-high 21.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He also had 5.9 assists while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 38.8 percent beyond the three-point arc.

In a statement issued to media following the news of Brogdon’s extension, the Pacers president of basketball operations, Kevin Pritchard, called the player “a very important part of our organization” while praising “the character he displays” off the court.

“He has become one of our undisputed leaders, continually supporting his teammates and setting them up for success, while also demonstrating the drive, dedication, and work ethic necessary to establish himself as one of the premier guards in the NBA,” Pritchard added.

The post Pacers Add 2 More Years to Malcolm Brogdon’s Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

5. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers might have been well out of the top five before the season started, but they certainly belong here after a commanding 4-0 start to their season.

4. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers have looked wishy-washy over the last few years, oftentimes looking like an Eastern Conference juggernaut, only to later appear fickle with no direction. Still, after a solid offseason—which included acquiring a revitalized Dwight Howard—and winning their first two games, could this be the year they finally go all the way?

3. Milwaukee Bucks

They might’ve lost in a hard-fought battle with the Boston Celtics on opening night, but then they came back with a 39-point blowout over the Golden State Warriors. Milwaukee still has a lot to prove when it comes to playoff action, but if their regular season is anything like last year’s, look for them to climb these power rankings with ease.

2. Brooklyn Nets

Kevin Durant is back, and he’s looking exactly like the Kevin Durant we all know and love. Is there anything else that needs to be said? Oh yeah—when Kyrie Irving is your second-best player, you know you’re going to be a serious problem for other teams.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

Being the defending champs and all, the Lakers receive the benefit of the doubt when it comes to power rankings. It also helps that they got better over the offseason, picking up reigning sixth man of the year Montrezl Harrell, runner-up Dennis Schroder, and veteran Marc Gasol. Sure, they lost to the Clippers in a sluggish first game, but the way they dismantled the Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks in game two with absolute ease reminded us all that they’re the team to beat this year.

The post NBA Power Rankings: Getting Our First Look appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Gordon, who signed a four-year contract with the Celtics worth a total price of $127 million in 2017, has a $32.4 million player option going into the 2020-21 NBA season.

According to Ian Begley of SNY: “Something to keep an eye on once we find out when NBA teams can start making trades: some within the Pacers organization continue to have interest in trading for Celtics’ Gordon Hayward.”

A previous report from ESPN’s Tim Bontemps agreed with this sentiment, further informing that Hayward is likely to exercise his player option this offseason. This belief is largely based on Hayward’s age of 30 years, along with his recent injury history.

Should he exercise the option, not only will he receive a hefty $34 million, but he will also have the choice to audition for another contract next offseason, either with the Celtics or another NBA franchise.

Should Hayward turn down the option in favor of a new deal in free agency, the Pacers might be inclined to make a move for this player.

The post Pacers Eye Celtics’ Gordon Hayward, Reports Suggest appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Prior to his time at the Raptors, Bjorkgren was the assistant coach of the Phoenix Suns from 2015 to 2017. Before that, he was a coach in the NBA G League, leading the likes of Iowa Energy, the Santa Cruz Warriors, and Bakersfield Jam. In 2011, he won the G League title with Iowa, while making it to the G League Finals with Santa Cruz just two years later.

The decision to hire Bjorkgren comes just weeks after the Pacers dismissed the previous coach Nate McMillan after seven years of service (three as an assistant coach and four as head coach). During his time as Pacers’ coach, McMillan took the team to the NBA Playoffs in each of his first four seasons in charge. He racked up a 183-136 record in Indiana.

With the Pacers failing to make the NBA Playoffs in 2020, Bjorkgren will be tasked with returning this team to their former glory.

The post Pacers to Hire Bjorkgren as Head Coach appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While the final number will depend on several factors, it is believed that the max-contract for Oladipo would include a four-year deal worth around $112.8 million. Indiana wasn’t ready to commit that kind of money so far, having made a lower offer to the 28-year-old player last season. 

Oladipo is definitely a max-contract player when he’s at his best. But the problem for Pacers is that he wasn’t at his best or even played a lot since coming to Indiana.

In the first season with Pacers in 2017/18, Victor Oladipo played lights out, earning his first All-Star appearance, All-NBA selection, and the award for NBA’s Most Improved Player. The following season also started well for Oladipo, but he ended up rupturing the quad tendon in his right knee that sidelined him for more than a year.

Oladipo returned to court in late January but hasn’t looked like the same player since. He only averaged 14.5 points during 19 games in the 2019/20 regular season, although the numbers slightly went up during the playoffs.

This slow return reportedly worried Pacers enough to start listening to trade offers for Oladipo. So far, New York Knicks and LA Lakers emerged as potential suitors, although Boston Celtics are also believed to be monitoring the situation.

The post Pacers’ Victor Oladipo Looking to Get a Max-Contract Next Year appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Billups, who retired in 2014, doesn’t have coaching experience but has remained involved in basketball working as an analyst. He also had opportunities to work in the front office in the past couple of years, being offered a general manager position with Cleveland Cavaliers, but would reportedly rather be an NBA coach.

Wojnarowski reports that the Pacers want Billups because he fits the mold of their previous coaches like Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas, both NBA champions and known for their leadership qualities.

The contacts between Indiana Pacers and Chauncey Billups are believed to be in the early stages, and the organization is expected to take time evaluating other candidates. Also, the outcome of the talks will most likely depend on in-depth interviews between two sides, which will show whether Billups and Indiana share the same ambitions and philosophy.

In case Billups doesn’t land a job with Pacers, he still might get to have a coaching job next season. Reportedly, Billups has a verbal agreement to join Ty Lue as an assistant if the former Cavaliers’ head coach lands a new coaching gig this summer.

Billups played for seven different teams during his NBA career but saw his biggest successes with Pistons with whom he won the NBA title in 2004. He is also a five-time All-Star and has three All-NBA selections. 

The post Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups Leading Candidate for Pacers’ Head Coaching Job appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Several weeks ago, Oladipo said that his decision on going to Orlando will mostly depend on his physical ability. The 28-year-old guard was previously sidelined with a knee injury for more than a year and only returned to action in January.

According to sources, Pacers are confident that they’ll have their best player on the team for the rest of 2019/20 and have made him part of their travel list. However, Oladipo himself told reporters on Wednesday that he still hasn’t made the final decision.

“I haven’t made a decision just yet. Just taking it one day at a time,” said Oladipo. “I feel like when the day comes, I’ll know. I appreciate my teammates and this organization for backing me and supporting me with whatever decision I make, but at the same time, I’m focused on me getting as strong as possible and getting where I’m at.”

Despite their optimism, Pacers reportedly didn’t pressure Oladipo and have informed the player that they will support him regardless of the choice he makes. Also, the organization didn’t set any deadlines for him to make the final decision.

Since coming back from injury, Victor Oladipo played 13 games in which he averaged 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.

The post Pacers’ Victor Oladipo on NBA Resume: “I Haven’t Made a Decision Just Yet” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.