Indiana Pacers Playoff History: Series by Year

This is a timeline with all the NBA postseason series played by the Indiana Pacers. It also includes data about how the team arrived to the Playoffs that year and the result of each series, since their first season in 1977 to the present.

In their 49 seasons in the NBA, the Indiana Pacers made the postseason 29 times. On those years they have played a total of 51 playoff series (including one in progress), of which they won 22 and lost 28, for a 44.0 winning percentge.

So far, they have never won a Championship but they reached the Finals once.

Indiana Pacers Playoffs Timeline

2025 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference (50-32 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Currently playing against the Cleveland Cavaliers 0-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals

2024 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference (47-35 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 4-2 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the New York Knicks 4-3 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Lost to the Boston Celtics 0-4 in the Eastern Conference Finals

* The Celtics ended up winning the Championship.

2023 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (35-47 season record, 11th in the Eastern Conference).

2022 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (25-57 season record, 13th in the Eastern Conference).

2021 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (34-38 season record, 9th in the Eastern Conference). They lost to the Wizards and defeated the Hornets in the Eastern Conference Play-In.

2020 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference (45-28 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Miami Heat 0-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2019 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference (48-34 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Boston Celtics 0-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2018 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference (48-34 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2017 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference (42-40 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 0-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2016 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference (45-37 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Toronto Raptors 3-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2015 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (38-44 season record, 9th in the Eastern Conference).

2014 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference (56-26 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Atlanta Hawks 4-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the Washington Wizards 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Lost to the Miami Heat 2-4 in the Eastern Conference Finals

2013 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference (49-32 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Atlanta Hawks 4-2 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the New York Knicks 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Lost to the Miami Heat 3-4 in the Eastern Conference Finals

* The Heat ended up winning the Championship.

2012 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference (42-24 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Orlando Magic 4-1 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Lost to the Miami Heat 2-4 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals

* The Heat ended up winning the Championship.

2011 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference (37-45 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Chicago Bulls 1-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2010 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (32-50 season record, 10th in the Eastern Conference).

2009 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (36-46 season record, 9th in the Eastern Conference).

2008 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (36-46 season record, 9th in the Eastern Conference).

2007 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (35-47 season record, 9th in the Eastern Conference).

2006 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference (41-41 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the New Jersey Nets 2-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2005 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference (44-38 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Boston Celtics 4-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Lost to the Detroit Pistons 2-4 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals

2004 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference (61-21 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Boston Celtics 4-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the Miami Heat 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Lost to the Detroit Pistons 2-4 in the Eastern Conference Finals

* The Pistons ended up winning the Championship.

2003 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference (48-34 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Boston Celtics 2-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2002 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference (42-40 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the New Jersey Nets 2-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2001 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference (41-41 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 1-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2000 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference (56-26 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 3-2 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Defeated the New York Knicks 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals
  • -
    Lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 2-4 in the NBA Finals

1999 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference (33-17 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 3-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Lost to the New York Knicks 2-4 in the Eastern Conference Finals

1998 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference (58-24 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-1 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the New York Knicks 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Lost to the Chicago Bulls 3-4 in the Eastern Conference Finals

* The Bulls ended up winning the Championship.

1997 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (39-43 season record, 10th in the Eastern Conference).

1996 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference (52-30 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Atlanta Hawks 2-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

1995 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference (52-30 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Atlanta Hawks 3-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the New York Knicks 4-3 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Lost to the Orlando Magic 3-4 in the Eastern Conference Finals

1994 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference (47-35 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Orlando Magic 3-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the Atlanta Hawks 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Lost to the New York Knicks 3-4 in the Eastern Conference Finals

1993 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference (41-41 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the New York Knicks 1-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

1992 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference (40-42 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Boston Celtics 0-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

1991 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference (41-41 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Boston Celtics 2-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

1990 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference (42-40 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Detroit Pistons 0-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

* The Pistons ended up winning the Championship.

1989 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (28-54 season record, 10th in the Eastern Conference).

1988 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (38-44 season record, 9th in the Eastern Conference).

1987 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference (41-41 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Atlanta Hawks 1-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

1986 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (26-56 season record, 10th in the Eastern Conference).

1985 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (22-60 season record, 11th in the Eastern Conference).

1984 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (26-56 season record, 11th in the Eastern Conference).

1983 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (20-62 season record, 11th in the Eastern Conference).

1982 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (35-47 season record, 8th in the Eastern Conference).

1981 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference (44-38 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 0-2 in the Eastern Conference First Round

1980 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (37-45 season record, 8th in the Eastern Conference).

1979 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (38-44 season record, 10th in the Western Conference).

1978 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (31-51 season record, 11th in the Western Conference).

1977 Playoffs

The Indiana Pacers didn't qualify for the Playoffs (36-46 season record, 9th in the Western Conference).

- end of timeline