The Indiana Pacers aren’t new to competing in the NBA Playoffs, but they haven’t come close to touching a trophy since the 1999-00 season when they lost in the finals. The team experienced rejuvenation this season, earning a playoff spot for the third year straight and will face the Atlanta Hawks in the first round with serious momentum.
The Pacers clinched the Central Division title for the fifth time in franchise history when the second-place Chicago Bulls fell short against the Detroit Pistons on April 7. The Pacers’ 49-32 record was good enough for the third seed in the Eastern Conference, which led to a match-up with the No. 6 seed Atlanta, who went 44-38 in the regular season. Their division win guaranteed the Pacers a home playoff series, which will kick off on April 21 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. The playoffs will continue in Indianapolis on April 24 before the Hawks host the Pacers at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on April 27 and 29. If no one has claimed the series by the fourth game, the teams will travel back to Indianapolis on May 1, followed by Game 6 back in Atlanta on May 3, and if needed, Game 7 will take place in Indianapolis on May 5. You can sit courtside as the drama unfolds in the NBA Playoffs 2013 with Pacers playoff tickets from the Vivid Seats marketplace.
The Pacers will need to bring their A-game for the matchup against Atlanta, as they split 2-2 with the Hawks in the regular season. Indiana lost the first two games to Atlanta before winning 114-103 on Feb. 5 and 100-94 on March 25. Paul George, who is averaging a career-best 17.4 points per game, has been the Pacers’ go-to forward/guard this year, and will definitely be the player to keep an eye on during the playoffs.
