Docs Website

54 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

2026 Indiana Pacers Predictions with Best Bets and Odds to Win NBA Championship

by Spencer Toth - 10/6/2026

Indiana Pacers predictions Tyrese Haliburton

Last year the Indiana Pacers finished 19-63 for their worst record in their 60-year history. However, the year before the Pacers made the NBA Finals and were one win away from the ultimate prize. The consensus is that the Pacers will be somewhere between those two seasons this year, as a healthy, retooled lineup is as motivated as ever. Will Indiana bounce back and look like the 2024-2025 squad that shocked the league, or will they find themselves on the outside looking in like in 2025-26? Let’s dive in. 

Doc’s Sports offers NBA expert picks for every game on our NBA predictions page.

Indiana Pacers Offseason Recap

The Indiana Pacers had a relatively quiet offseason as their primary focus was trying to capture lightning in a bottle that got them to the NBA Finals. Tyrese Haliburton missed the entire campaign after tearing his Achilles in the 2025 NBA Finals, which allowed the Pacers to tank, tinker, and get ready for his return this season. 

Indiana traded their draft pick away for Ivica Zubac, which meant their only way to improve was through free agency or via trade. Indiana’s two biggest signings were Kelly Oubre and Larry Nance, but neither really moved the needle in terms of their ceiling. Both will start on the bench this year, and while Oubre can certainly bring tenacity to the floor, his poor decision making and lack of a jump shot limits what he can do for this team. The Pacers didn’t need to make any big moves as they expect the core of their roster to run it back as they did 18 months ago. 

2026 Indiana Pacers Season Expectations

There is belief that the Pacers have a non-zero chance of returning to the NBA Finals with a healthy Tyrese Haliburton. On paper, a 19-63 team that was relatively inactive in the offseason doesn’t exactly scream NBA contender, but that is far from the truth for the Pacers. In addition to Haliburton missing the entire year, the Pacers dealt with a long list of injuries that kept their stars on the sidelines and the win column barren. Zubac only played five games for the Pacers since coming over at the trade deadline last year, while Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, and TJ McConnell all missed between 20 and 58 games last season. Those five plus Haliburton and Zubac are the Pacers top seven players, which makes it unsurprising that they struggled as much as they did last year. 

Looking forward, the Pacers have as much mystery surrounding them as any NBA team heading into the new year. Will Haliburton look as good post-Achilles injury? Can Zubac fit into this roster as seamlessly as Myles Turner did? Can role players like Nesmith and Nembhard dial it in on both ends of the floor? Is Pascal Siakam still a star at 32 years old? All these questions will be answered in the coming weeks, but there are still a few things we can dial in on before the year tips off. 

Despite going to the NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton is still not quite a household name. His offensive numbers are not off the charts, but the clutch gene he brings was something to write stories about. Time and time again, Haliburton would land clutch shots to sink seemingly unslayable giants in the playoffs last year, and were it not for the injury, he could have potentially done it one more time against the OKC Thunder in Game 7. While that is neither here nor there, it is hard to dispute that the Pacers are in good hands with Haliburton leading the charge. His distribution elevates the offensive game of everyone around him, as defenses collapse on him behind the arc with frequent double teams. Haliburton appears to be moving normally in training camp, and the league may not quite be ready for a Pacers resurgence if vengeance is on his mind. 

Haliburton is a big part of this team, but he did not single-handedly carry the Pacers to the NBA Finals. Nembhard delivered big offensive games after being drafted to play defense, Nesmith was a consistent performer on both ends, while Siakam’s offensive volume kept the Pacers afloat during cold spells. Heading into this year, Siakam will once again need to take 20 shots a night so the Pacers can surround him with defensive stars. The Cameroon native secured his fourth All-Star appearance of his career last season, on the back of 24 PPG, his most since leaving the Raptors. It wasn’t enough with a dreadful supporting cast, but Indiana once again needs a strong showing from Siakam if they hope to get back to the playoffs. 

2026 Indiana Pacers Schedule Breakdown

The Pacers have a favorable schedule to kick things off, taking on the Pelicans, Mavericks, Nets, and Bucks to start the year. Those four are expected to be some of the worst teams in the league this season, which means the Pacers need at least a 3-1 start if they are serious about challenging this year. In the NBA Cup, things don’t get much harder than a group with the Knicks, 76ers, Heat, and Cavaliers. Indiana is the underdog to advance, but with all five teams being playoff hopefuls, there will be little to separate the squads. Jumping ahead, the Pacers will be spending Christmas on the road as they are in the middle of a five-game road trip to the West Coast, their longest trip of the season. Finally, they close out the season with seven straight against Eastern Conference foe, which means there could be plenty to play for down the stretch.

2026 Indiana Pacers Betting Odds

The Indiana Pacers have a win total of 43.5 this season, with -130 odds to the over, which puts them in a three-way tie for eighth place in the East. However, they are still favorites to make the playoffs with -180 odds to make and +140 odds to miss, but may need the play-in tournament to do so as they have +140 odds to participate. Looking at the postseason, the Pacers have +1500 odds to win the East, the eighth-shortest price, while they have +4000 odds to win the NBA Finals. 

In the NBA Cup, the Pacers are projected to finish dead-last in a group with the Knicks (+225), 76ers (+225), Cavaliers (+450), and Heat (+475), but still have a shot with +600 odds to finish on top. If they do survive the group of death, they have +1200 odds to make the NBA Cup Final and +4000 odds to lift the trophy.

2026 Indiana Pacers Season Predictions and Best Bets
Will the Pacers bounce back? Will Haliburton look healthy? Will their quiet offseason pan out as expected? Even after taking a deep dive on the Pacers, we are still left with more questions than answers surrounding this team. I can agree they are unlikely to finish with 19 wins again, but expecting them to run it back after struggling last year is quite the tall task. The Eastern Conference is as loaded as ever, with a dozen teams heading into the year with a realistic chance to challenge for the top spot. The Pacers are one of them, but are they among the favorites? I don’t think so. Coming off an Achilles injury is never easy, and Haliburton’s explosive first step was one of the best aspects of his game. If he loses that quickness or hasn’t healed properly, the Pacers are a bust. If Zubac can’t gel with his new team, the Pacers are a bust. If Siakam can’t deliver another stellar offensive season, the Pacers are a bust. There are too many things that have to go right for this team to succeed, and we just can’t justify these odds. In terms of the best way to attack these prices, the playoff prop is the best option. It is always better to target plus money on season-long picks as you have to tie up less of your bankroll for months on end, and the +140 odds on the Pacers to miss the playoffs are too juicy to turn down. Their 43.5 win total is speculative at best, and even that record may not be good enough for a playoff spot in a very deep Eastern Conference. If the stars align, the Pacers could certainly make another deep playoff run, but more often than not, they find themselves watching April and May basketball from the couch. 

Top Pick: Indiana Pacers to Miss the Playoffs +140

Get NBA picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.

 

Most Recent NBA Handicapping

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers