1995–96 Indiana Pacers season
| 1995–96 Indiana Pacers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Larry Brown |
| General manager | Donnie Walsh |
| Owner | Herbert Simon |
| Arena | Market Square Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 52–30 (.634) |
| Place | Division: 2nd (Central) Conference: 3rd (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | First round (lost to Hawks 2–3) |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | WTTV Prime Sports Midwest |
| Radio | WIBC |
The 1995–96 Indiana Pacers season was the 20th season for the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association, and their 29th season as a franchise.[1] During the off-season, the Pacers signed free agents Ricky Pierce and Eddie Johnson.[2][3][4]
With the addition of Pierce and Johnson, the Pacers struggled with a 6–8 start to the regular season, as Rik Smits missed 19 games due to an ankle injury.[5][6][7] However, the team posted a 14–2 record in January, which included a seven-game winning streak, and later on held a 31–16 record at the All-Star break.[8] The Pacers won eight of their final nine games of the season, and finished in second place in the Central Division with a 52–30 record, which was the same record as the previous season, earning the third seed in the Eastern Conference; the team also qualified for the NBA playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.[9]
Reggie Miller led the Pacers in scoring averaging 21.1 points per game, led them with 168 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Smits averaged 18.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. In addition, Derrick McKey provided the team with 11.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while Dale Davis provided with 10.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, and Mark Jackson contributed 10.0 points and 7.8 assists per game. Off the bench, Pierce contributed 9.7 points per game, while sixth man Antonio Davis averaged 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, Johnson contributed 7.7 points per game, and Haywood Workman provided with 3.6 points and 2.8 assists per game.[10]
During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Miller was selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team.[11][12][13] The Pacers were also the only team in the league to beat the Chicago Bulls twice during their historic 72–10 season, with a 103–97 home win at the Market Square Arena on December 26, 1995,[14][15][16] and a 100–99 road win at the United Center on April 20, 1996.[17][18][19] However, during the final month of the regular season, Miller suffered an eye socket injury.[20][21][22]
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1996 NBA playoffs, and for the third consecutive year, the Pacers faced off against the 6th–seeded Atlanta Hawks, a team that featured Steve Smith, Mookie Blaylock and Grant Long. Without Miller, the Pacers used Pierce as their starting shooting guard in his absence.[23][24] The Hawks took a 2–1 series lead, but the Pacers managed to win Game 4 on the road, 83–75 at the Omni Coliseum to even the series.[25][26][27] Miller returned to play in Game 5 at the Market Square Arena, scoring 29 points while wearing protective eye goggles; however, the Pacers lost to the Hawks at home, 89–87, thus losing in a hard-fought five-game series.[28][29][30]
The Pacers finished 17th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 673,967 at the Market Square Arena during the regular season.[10][31] Following the season, Jackson and Pierce were both traded to the Denver Nuggets.[32][33][34]
One notable incident of the regular season occurred on November 10, 1995, during a home game against the Sacramento Kings at the Market Square Arena, in which a brawl occurred. During the third quarter, Dale Davis fouled Kings guard Bobby Hurley hard as he drove into the lane; Kings forward Michael Smith confronted Davis, as both players fought with each other. Players from both teams left the bench to break up the fight. A total of 16 players were fined and suspended; Davis and Smith were both suspended for two games and fined $20,000, while 14 players, seven from each team, were all suspended for one game for leaving the bench during an altercation. 13 of the players that left the bench were all fined $2,500, while Kings center Duane Causwell was fined $7,500, because he did not try to break up the fight.[35][36][37] The Pacers lost to the Kings, 119–95.[38]
Offseason
Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | Travis Best | PG | United States | Georgia Tech |
| 2 | 52 | Fred Hoiberg | SG | United States | Iowa State |
Roster
| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
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Regular season
Season standings
| Central Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| z–Chicago Bulls | 72 | 10 | .878 | – | 39–2 | 33–8 | 24–4 | 82 |
| x–Indiana Pacers | 52 | 30 | .634 | 20.0 | 32–9 | 20–21 | 19–9 | 82 |
| x–Cleveland Cavaliers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 25.0 | 26–15 | 21–20 | 13–15 | 82 |
| x–Atlanta Hawks | 46 | 36 | .561 | 26.0 | 26–15 | 20–21 | 15–13 | 82 |
| x–Detroit Pistons | 46 | 36 | .561 | 26.0 | 30–11 | 16–25 | 15–13 | 82 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 31.0 | 25–16 | 16–25 | 13–15 | 82 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 25 | 57 | .305 | 47.0 | 14–27 | 11–30 | 8–20 | 82 |
| Toronto Raptors | 21 | 61 | .256 | 51.0 | 15–26 | 6–35 | 5–23 | 82 |
| Eastern Conference | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | z–Chicago Bulls | 72 | 10 | .878 | – | 82 |
| 2 | y–Orlando Magic | 60 | 22 | .732 | 12.0 | 82 |
| 3 | x–Indiana Pacers | 52 | 30 | .634 | 20.0 | 82 |
| 4 | x–Cleveland Cavaliers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 25.0 | 82 |
| 5 | x–New York Knicks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 25.0 | 82 |
| 6 | x–Atlanta Hawks | 46 | 36 | .561 | 26.0 | 82 |
| 7 | x–Detroit Pistons | 46 | 36 | .561 | 26.0 | 82 |
| 8 | x–Miami Heat | 42 | 40 | .512 | 30.0 | 82 |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 31.0 | 82 |
| 10 | Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 33.0 | 82 |
| 11 | Boston Celtics | 33 | 49 | .402 | 39.0 | 82 |
| 12 | New Jersey Nets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 42.0 | 82 |
| 13 | Milwaukee Bucks | 25 | 57 | .305 | 47.0 | 82 |
| 14 | Toronto Raptors | 21 | 61 | .256 | 51.0 | 82 |
| 15 | Philadelphia 76ers | 18 | 64 | .220 | 54.0 | 82 |
- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Game log
Regular season
| 1995–96 game log Total: 52–30 (home: 32–9; road: 20–21) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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November: 6–6 (home: 2–3; road: 4–3)
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December: 9–6 (home: 8–0; road: 1–6)
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January: 14–2 (home: 7–0; road: 7–2)
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February: 8–6 (home: 5–3; road: 3–3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March: 7–8 (home: 5–2; road: 2–6)
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April: 8–2 (home: 5–1; road: 3–1)
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| 1995–96 schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playoffs
| 1996 playoff game log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Eastern Conference First Round: 2–3 (home: 1–2; road: 1–1)
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| 1996 schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Player statistics
Ragular season
| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonio Davis | PF | 82 | 14 | 2,092 | 501 | 43 | 33 | 66 | 719 | 25.5 | 6.1 | .5 | .4 | .8 | 8.8 |
| Mark Jackson | PG | 81 | 81 | 2,643 | 307 | 635 | 100 | 5 | 806 | 32.6 | 3.8 | 7.8 | 1.2 | .1 | 10.0 |
| Dale Davis | PF | 78 | 77 | 2,617 | 709 | 76 | 56 | 112 | 803 | 33.6 | 9.1 | 1.0 | .7 | 1.4 | 10.3 |
| Haywoode Workman | PG | 77 | 4 | 1,164 | 124 | 213 | 65 | 4 | 279 | 15.1 | 1.6 | 2.8 | .8 | .1 | 3.6 |
| Reggie Miller | SG | 76 | 76 | 2,621 | 214 | 253 | 77 | 13 | 1,606 | 34.5 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 1.0 | .2 | 21.1 |
| Ricky Pierce | SG | 76 | 2 | 1,404 | 136 | 101 | 57 | 6 | 737 | 18.5 | 1.8 | 1.3 | .8 | .1 | 9.7 |
| Derrick McKey | SF | 75 | 75 | 2,440 | 361 | 262 | 83 | 44 | 879 | 32.5 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 1.1 | .6 | 11.7 |
| Rik Smits | C | 63 | 63 | 1,901 | 433 | 110 | 21 | 45 | 1,164 | 30.2 | 6.9 | 1.7 | .3 | .7 | 18.5 |
| Eddie Johnson | SF | 62 | 1 | 1,002 | 153 | 69 | 20 | 4 | 475 | 16.2 | 2.5 | 1.1 | .3 | .1 | 7.7 |
| Travis Best | PG | 59 | 1 | 571 | 44 | 97 | 20 | 3 | 221 | 9.7 | .7 | 1.6 | .3 | .1 | 3.7 |
| Duane Ferrell | SF | 54 | 6 | 591 | 93 | 30 | 23 | 3 | 202 | 10.9 | 1.7 | .6 | .4 | .1 | 3.7 |
| Adrian Caldwell | PF | 51 | 1 | 327 | 110 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 110 | 6.4 | 2.2 | .1 | .2 | .1 | 2.2 |
| Dwayne Schintzius | C | 33 | 8 | 297 | 78 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 111 | 9.0 | 2.4 | .4 | .3 | .4 | 3.4 |
| Fred Hoiberg | SG | 15 | 1 | 85 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 32 | 5.7 | .6 | .5 | .4 | .1 | 2.1 |
Playoffs
| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Jackson | PG | 5 | 5 | 186 | 25 | 30 | 6 | 0 | 53 | 37.2 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 1.2 | .0 | 10.6 |
| Dale Davis | PF | 5 | 5 | 184 | 56 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 36 | 36.8 | 11.2 | .8 | .6 | 1.2 | 7.2 |
| Derrick McKey | SF | 5 | 5 | 180 | 33 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 64 | 36.0 | 6.6 | 2.0 | 1.4 | .2 | 12.8 |
| Rik Smits | C | 5 | 5 | 166 | 37 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 95 | 33.2 | 7.4 | 1.6 | .4 | .4 | 19.0 |
| Ricky Pierce | SG | 5 | 4 | 133 | 4 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 51 | 26.6 | .8 | 3.0 | 1.6 | .2 | 10.2 |
| Antonio Davis | PF | 5 | 0 | 127 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 39 | 25.4 | 6.2 | .6 | .6 | 1.2 | 7.8 |
| Travis Best | PG | 5 | 0 | 84 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 29 | 16.8 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.2 | .0 | 5.8 |
| Duane Ferrell | SF | 5 | 0 | 69 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 13.8 | 1.8 | .6 | .8 | .0 | 3.6 |
| Haywoode Workman | PG | 5 | 0 | 53 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 10.6 | .6 | .4 | .4 | .0 | 3.8 |
| Reggie Miller | SG | 1 | 1 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 31.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 29.0 |
| Eddie Johnson | SF | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.0 | .0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
| Adrian Caldwell | PF | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 2.0 |
Awards and records
- Reggie Miller, NBA All-Star Game
- Reggie Miller, All-NBA Third Team
- Derrick McKey, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
Transactions
Overview
| Players added Via draft Via trade Via free agency |
Players Lost Via expansion draft Via trade Via free agency |
| Additions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Date signed | Former team |
| Adrian Caldwell | October 4, 1995 | Sioux Falls Skyforce (CBA) |
| Eddie Johnson | October 3, 1995 | Olympiacos (Greece) |
| Ricky Pierce | October 3, 1995 | Golden State Warriors |
| Dwayne Schintzius | October 18, 1995 | New Jersey Nets |
| Subtractions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Reason Left | New team |
| Vern Fleming | Free Agency | New Jersey Nets |
| Greg Kite | Free Agency | Rapid City Thrillers (CBA) |
| Sam Mitchell | Free Agency | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Byron Scott | Expansion Draft | Vancouver Grizzlies |
| Mark Strickland | Free Agency | Unknown |
| LaSalle Thompson | Free Agency | Philadelphia 76ers |
Player Transactions Citation:[39]
References
- ^ 1995–96 Indiana Pacers
- ^ "NBA Off-Season Transactions". United Press International. October 5, 1995. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ Heisler, Mark (November 1, 1995). "Eastern Conference: Central Atlantic". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- ^ Smith, Sam (December 30, 1995). "Pacers' Johnson Burying Jumpers, Just Like Old Days". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ^ "Smits Will Have Surgery, Out 3-4 Weeks". United Press International. October 31, 1995. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Pacers' Smits Out 3 Weeks". The New York Times. November 1, 1995. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ Baker, Chris (December 11, 1995). "Frustrations Rise as Clippers Fall: Pro Basketball: Williams Fouls Out for Second Consecutive Game and Team Loses Eighth in a Row, 111-104, to Pacers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
- ^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
- ^ "1995–96 Indiana Pacers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ a b "1995–96 Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ Heisler, Mark (February 11, 1996). "NBA Has All-Stars in Its Eyes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ "1996 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ^ "1996 NBA All-Star Game: East 129, West 118". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Smits and Pacers Deal Bulls Their Third Loss of the Season". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 27, 1995. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ "Up by 24, Pacers Finally Cut Streaking Bulls Short". The Washington Post. December 27, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ "Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers Box Score, December 26, 1995". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ Nadel, Mike (April 20, 1996). "Pacers 100, Bulls 99". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ "Down to the Wire: Pacers 100, Bulls 99". Chicago Tribune. April 21, 1996. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ "Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls Box Score, April 20, 1996". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ "Miller to Undergo Surgery; Out 2-3 Weeks". United Press International. April 14, 1996. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ "Miller Out at Least 3 Weeks". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 15, 1996. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
- ^ "Injury to Sideline Pacers' Miller for Three Weeks". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 15, 1996. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ "Ricky Pierce to Start in Place of Reggie Miller". Associated Press. April 24, 1996. Archived from the original on January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ^ "N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Smits Steps In, in Overtime, to Defeat Fumbling Hawks". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 28, 1996. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ^ "Pacers 83, Hawks 75". United Press International. May 2, 1996. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ "NBA PLAYOFFS; Pacers to Head Home for Decisive Game 5". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 3, 1996. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ "Pacers, Hawks Face Do-or-Die 5th Game". Deseret News. Associated Press. May 4, 1996. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "NBA PLAYOFFS; Miller, in Surprise Return, Just Misses Ousting Hawks". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 6, 1996. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
- ^ "Hawks Escape Pacers". The Washington Post. May 6, 1996. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
- ^ "1996 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Hawks vs. Pacers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- ^ "1995–96 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
- ^ "Pacers Trade Jackson, Pierce to Denver". United Press International. June 13, 1996. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
- ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Nuggets Trade Abdul-Rauf, Acquire Pacers' Jackson". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 14, 1996. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- ^ "In One of Two Deals, Abdul-Rauf Is Traded". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 14, 1996. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ "Kings 119, Pacers 95". United Press International. November 11, 1995. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
- ^ "Which Players Weren't Suspended?: Pro Basketball: NBA Punishes Eight Pacers, Eight Kings for Fighting. Penalties Will Have to Be Staggered". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 12, 1995. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ "NBA Suspends 16 from Pacers, Kings for Fighting". The Seattle Times. Seattle Times News Services. November 12, 1995. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ "Sacramento Kings at Indiana Pacers Box Score, November 10, 1995". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ^ "1995–96 Indiana Pacers Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 3, 2021.