The Indiana Pacers are really living up to their name racing up and down the court this season like racecars in the Indianapolis 500. The franchise recently achieved a new franchise record by recording 50 assists in their 150-116 victory against the Atlanta Hawks. Within this great team, the record was another impressive performance for Tyrese Haliburton who has moved up several levels this season and a lock for his first NBA All-Star Game this season.

The Indiana Pacers’ Assist Record

The Pacers’ current good form has them sitting in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 24 wins and 17 losses. A recent  six-game winning streak has also featured Haliburton achieving 18 or more assists in a game three times since Christmas, including an insane 23 assists against the New York Knicks.

Haliburton’s 12.8 assist average this season is the best of any NBA player and has gone a long way to ensuring the Pacers have had the league’s best offense. The facts speak for themselves and at the time of writing the Indiana Pacers top the stats tables for points per game with 127.6, assists per game with 31.2, and field goal percentage with 51.2. 

Their offensive rating of 122.5 puts them ahead of current Championship favorites, the Boston Celtics, on 120.9.

The Pacers’ Season So Far

The Pacers’ season to date has been a mixed bag and a comprehensive defeat by the Celtics saw them finish the match 51 points behind their opponents. A lack of height and defensive steel have been a concern. 

Their poor defensive record offsets their high-scoring attacking play and is the reason they aren’t expected to lift silverware this season. 

There are some big players on the roster, but only Jalen Smith, Myles Turner, Isaiah Jackson, and Obi Toppin measure over 6ft 7″ and get regular game time. Relying so heavily on their offense saw a string of poor results earlier in the season, but something has clicked and their six-game winning streak shows the potential that this team has.

The Season Ahead and Playoffs

Despite winning six games in a row, the Indiana Pacers are still regarded as Championship longshots with odds of around 100/1 available for them to secure the title. Pacers fans will take advantage of legal online and in-person sports betting to back their team. While the high odds of a championship win might be hopeful thinking, exploring match betting markets can provide good value.

There are great options to explore wider basketball betting markets with individual player or team betting available. Finding an operator that offers offshore options can help bettors find better odds or more extensive options.

The Pacers’ next big test is at home against the Celtics who are odds-on favorites to win the match. Pacer’s fans will be hoping they can continue their impressive winning streak and odds of 15/8 could be tempting for many.

The Pacers follow up their home games against the Celtics with another home tie against the Washington Wizards before hitting the road to take on the Hawks, Nuggets, Jazz, Kings, Trail Blazers, and Suns in the space of two weeks. A 9-7 away record going into these games should instill a level of confidence, and if they can figure out how to protect against their defensive frailties, they could push for a playoff position by the end of the season.

Another question is whether the Pacers offense-heavy success can translate into postseason success. History has told us that high-scoring teams slow down as teams get deeper into the NBA Playoff bracket.

The Pacers’ Key Players

If the Indiana Pacers are going to mount an unlikely title push, they will be relying on their key players to maintain their good form and remain free from injuries. Following his mid-season trade from the Sacramento Kings, Tyrese Haliburton has been a key figure for the Pacers. The 23-year-old point guard undoubtedly has a big future ahead of him and is already performing to a very high standard.

He leads the way for the Pacers on point scoring and has a 24.4 ppg average. His 12.8 APG average is the Pacers’ and league’s performance. Benedict Mathurin, Myles Turner, and Buddy Hield have all performed well with Myles Turner leading the way defensively with 70 blocks. Their recent acquisition of NBA All-Star Pascal Siakam will certainly boost the Pacers attack. Obi Toppin’s FG percentage of 57.7% leads the way for a side that has the potential to cause problems for any team in the league.