Head coach Larry Brown Arena Market Square Arena | General manager Donnie Walsh Record 52–30 (.634) | |
Place Division: 2nd (Central)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern) Playoff finish Lost to Atlanta Hawks in East First Round (2-3) | ||
The 1995–96 NBA season was the Pacers' 20th season in the National Basketball Association, and 29th season as a franchise. During the offseason, the Pacers signed free agents Ricky Pierce and Eddie Johnson. The team struggled with a 6–8 start to the season, which included a brawl in a 119–95 loss to the Sacramento Kings on November 10, with a total of 16 players suspended, eight from each team. However, the Pacers posted a 14–2 record in January, and later on won eight of their final games of the season. The Pacers finished second in the Central Division with a 52–30 record, with Reggie Miller being selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game. They were also the only team in the league to beat the Chicago Bulls twice during their historic 72–10 season. However, during the final month of the regular season, Miller suffered an eye socket injury.
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Without Miller, the Pacers struggled in the first round of the playoffs against the 6th-seeded Atlanta Hawks. With the series tied at 2–2, Miller would return to play in Game 5, but the Pacers would lose 89–87. Following the season, Pierce and Mark Jackson were both traded to the Denver Nuggets.
Season standings
z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spotEast First Round
(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Eastern Conference First Round (Indiana won 3-0)
*Required overtime