Pacers Rise as East’s Dark Horse | Indiana Pacers News

The Indiana Pacers are ESPN’s dark horse for the 2026-27 NBA season, fueled by Tyrese Haliburton’s leadership, Rick Carlisle’s system, and a roster upgrade that includes Kelly Oubre Jr., Ivica Zubac, and Larry Nance Jr. Despite losing Bennedict Mathurin, they’re building a fast, cutting offense with multiple clutch contributors — no superstar reliance, just team chemistry. Their defensive foundation, anchored by Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard, could be elite if Carlisle’s schemes return. While projected for a 44-win season and possible play-in battle, history says this Pacers squad thrives under pressure — don’t bet against them making noise. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/258e0b3f01655f7d