The biggest games of the Pacers' 2026-27 season
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The Pacers' road back from a 19-win season includes a trip to Mexico City and an NBA Cup championship game in Indianapolis.
Why it matters: With superstar Tyrese Haliburton returning to the court, the 2026-27 Pacers look more like the team that nearly won it all one summer ago than the squad that set a franchise record for regular-season losses.
Yes, but: The NBA doesn’t seem as convinced, and that’s reflected in the league's decision to limit the team to only a handful of marquee spots on national TV.
Zoom in: The release of the full 2026-27 NBA schedule yesterday afternoon includes 11 Pacers games scheduled for national broadcast, up from nine the year before.
- Their only ESPN game is Oct. 28 when they host LeBron James and the 76ers. Philly will come back to town for this year's Gold Friday game on Nov. 27.
- They’ll step into the spotlight on NBC against the Pistons on March 16.
- The rest of their national exposure will come via streaming. Four games air on Amazon Prime and five games air on Peacock.
The intrigue: A game to watch is when Indiana heads to Mexico City to play the Denver Nuggets in one of the league's international showcases on Nov. 7.
- The team will also have the opportunity to win a title on its home turf. The NBA Cup Championship takes place at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Dec. 11.
- But to hoist a trophy in the home of the Bulldogs, they’ll have to survive a tournament field that includes a Nov. 13 game against the world champion New York Knicks.
What’s next: The Pacers’ first game is on the road against the Pelicans on Oct. 21.
- Single-game tickets go on sale Sept. 16 at 2pm.