NBA
Red-Hot Pacers Could Shock the East in 2025 NBA Playoffs
Heading into the Playoffs, the Pacers are one of the hottest teams in the Association.
The Indiana Pacers are quietly becoming one of the most dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference. Since starting the season 10-15, Indiana has gone 40-17—a scorching 70.1% winning percentage that puts them among the league’s elite down the stretch. They’re also the only team in the East besides Boston and Cleveland to own a winning record against opponents with a .500 record or better, a strong sign of postseason readiness.
Digging deeper, the Pacers’ Net Rating by quarter since the All-Star break paints a compelling picture of their dominance late in games. They’ve posted a -1.0 net rating in the first quarter, -0.6 in the second, +2.0 in the third, and a jaw-dropping +20.3 in the fourth. Indiana has been blowing teams away in crunch time, a trait that could be lethal in the playoffs.
The Pacers are expected to face a difficult path to the NBA Finals. They’ll play the Bucks in the first round, likely the Cavaliers in the second, and likely the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. It’s a gauntlet, but not impossible—especially considering their current form and the likelihood that Milwaukee will be without Damian Lillard to start the series.
From a betting perspective, Indiana is offering incredible value. The best price to win the NBA Finals is +10000 at BetMGM, while they’re as short as +7000 at Caesars. For the Eastern Conference, they’re available at +2600 at FanDuel but are as low as +1800 at Caesars. Both are excellent longshot bets with strong cashout potential. Given how the Pacers are trending, don’t be surprised if they make a deep run—and possibly shock the East.
Dan Karpuc is the Founder of Sleeper Central and a seasoned sports betting expert. Previously, he served as the Director of Digital Content at BetQL (acquired by Audacy) and has contributed to top sports media outlets, including GiveMeSport, 12Up, TradeSports, HuffPost, Bleacher Report, and ESPN. With millions of words published across the industry, Dan is a leading voice in sports betting analysis and strategy. His passion for longshot player prop bets fueled the creation of Sleeper Central, where he continues to provide sharp insights and innovative betting content.
