# 2020–21 Indiana Pacers season

The 2020–21 Indiana Pacers season was Indiana's 54th season as a franchise and 45th season in the NBA. The Pacers replaced Nate McMillan, with former Toronto Raptors assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren. During the season, the team acquired Caris LeVert in exchange for Victor Oladipo.
The Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015 following a loss to the Washington Wizards in the play-in tournament, ending a six-year playoff streak. Due to this, with multiple other factors, Bjorkgren was fired.

## NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Club |
| 2 | 54 | Cassius Stanley | SG | United States | Duke |
Entering the 2020 NBA draft, the Pacers only held one second-round pick. Their own first-round selection was traded as an incentive to acquire Malcolm Brogdon from the Milwaukee Bucks via sign and trade.

## Standings

Notes
* z – Clinched home-court advantage for the entire playoffs
* c – Clinched home-court advantage for the conference playoffs
* y – Clinched division title
* x – Clinched playoff spot
* * – Division leader

## Game log
### Preseason

2020 preseason game log Total: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0) :
Preseason: 0–0 (home: 0–0; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
2020–21 season schedule :

### Regular season

2020–21 game log Total: 34–38 (Home: 13–23; Road: 21–15) :
December: 4–1 (home: 3–1; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
December 23
New York
W 121–107
Domantas Sabonis (32)
Domantas Sabonis (13)
Malcolm Brogdon (8)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
1–0
2
December 26
@ Chicago
W 125–106
T. J. Warren (23)
Domantas Sabonis (10)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
United Center 0
2–0
3
December 27
Boston
W 108–107
Malcolm Brogdon (25)
Domantas Sabonis (10)
T. J. McConnell (7)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
3–0
4
December 29
Boston
L 111–116
Victor Oladipo (24)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
Domantas Sabonis (8)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
3–1
5
December 31
Cleveland
W 119–99
Domantas Sabonis (25)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
Victor Oladipo (8)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
4–1 :
January: 7–8 (home: 3–5; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
6
January 2
New York
L 102–106
Malcolm Brogdon (33)
Domantas Sabonis (13)
Malcolm Brogdon (7)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
4–2
7
January 4
@ New Orleans
W 118–116
Victor Oladipo (25)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
Malcolm Brogdon (11)
Smoothie King Center 0
5–2
8
January 6
Houston
W 114–107
Malcolm Brogdon (35)
Domantas Sabonis (12)
Malcolm Brogdon (7)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
6–2
9
January 9
Phoenix
L 117–125
Domantas Sabonis (25)
Domantas Sabonis (22)
Malcolm Brogdon (9)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
6–3
10
January 11
@ Sacramento
L 122–127
Domantas Sabonis (28)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
Malcolm Brogdon (9)
Golden 1 Center 0
6–4
11
January 12
@ Golden State
W 104–95
Myles Turner (22)
Domantas Sabonis (14)
Aaron Holiday (12)
Chase Center 0
7–4
12
January 14
@ Portland
W 111–87
Malcolm Brogdon (25)
Domantas Sabonis (15)
T. J. McConnell (8)
Moda Center 0
8–4
January 16
@ Phoenix
Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: March 13)
13
January 17
@ L.A. Clippers
L 96–129
Doug McDermott (23)
Domantas Sabonis (14)
Malcolm Brogdon (8)
Staples Center 0
8–5
14
January 20
Dallas
L 112–124
Malcolm Brogdon (26)
Domantas Sabonis (10)
T. J. McConnell (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
8–6
15
January 22
Orlando
W 120–118
Malcolm Brogdon (23)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
Domantas Sabonis (9)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
9–6
16
January 24
Toronto
L 102–107
Myles Turner (25)
Domantas Sabonis (19)
T. J. McConnell (7)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
9–7
17
January 25
Toronto
W 129–114
Malcolm Brogdon (36)
Myles Turner (9)
Brogdon, McConnell (9)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
10–7
18
January 27
@ Charlotte
W 116–106
Doug McDermott (28)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
Domantas Sabonis (10)
Spectrum Center 0
11–7
19
January 29
@ Charlotte
L 105–108
Domantas Sabonis (22)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
Malcolm Brogdon (8)
Spectrum Center 0
11–8
20
January 31
Philadelphia
L 110–119
Malcolm Brogdon (25)
Domantas Sabonis (8)
T. J. McConnell (8)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
11–9 :
February: 4–8 (home: 1–4; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
21
February 2
Memphis
W 134–116
Domantas Sabonis (32)
Domantas Sabonis (13)
Brogdon, McConnell (8)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
12–9
22
February 3
@ Milwaukee
L 110–130
Domantas Sabonis (33)
Domantas Sabonis (12)
T. J. McConnell (12)
Fiserv Forum 0
12–10
23
February 5
New Orleans
L 113–114
Justin Holiday (22)
J. Holiday, Lamb, McDermott, Sabonis, Turner (6)
T. J. McConnell (15)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
12–11
24
February 7
Utah
L 95–103
Domantas Sabonis (20)
Domantas Sabonis (9)
Malcolm Brogdon (7)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
12–12
25
February 10
@ Brooklyn
L 94–104
Domantas Sabonis (18)
Domantas Sabonis (9)
Malcolm Brogdon (6)
Barclays Center 0
12–13
26
February 11
@ Detroit
W 111–95
Domantas Sabonis (26)
Malcolm Brogdon (9)
Domantas Sabonis (8)
Little Caesars Arena 0
13–13
27
February 13
@ Atlanta
W 125–113
Doug McDermott (26)
Domantas Sabonis (13)
T. J. McConnell (12)
State Farm Arena 1,393
14–13
28
February 15
Chicago
L 112–120 (OT)
Domantas Sabonis (25)
Malcolm Brogdon (15)
Domantas Sabonis (5)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
14–14
29
February 17
@ Minnesota
W 134–128
Domantas Sabonis (36)
Domantas Sabonis (17)
Domantas Sabonis (10)
Target Center 0
15–14
February 20
@ Houston
Postponed (winter storm) (Makeup date: April 14)
February 22
San Antonio
Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: April 19)
30
February 24
Golden State
L 107–111
Malcolm Brogdon (24)
Domantas Sabonis (16)
T. J. McConnell (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
15–15
31
February 26
@ Boston
L 112–118
Domantas Sabonis (24)
Myles Turner (10)
Domantas Sabonis (9)
TD Garden 0
15–16
32
February 27
@ New York
L 107–110
Doug McDermott (20)
Domantas Sabonis (7)
T. J. McConnell (12)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
15–17 :
March: 6–8 (home: 1–3; road: 5–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
33
March 1
@ Philadelphia
L 114–130
Malcolm Brogdon (20)
Domantas Sabonis (9)
Domantas Sabonis (7)
Wells Fargo Center 0
15–18
34
March 3
@ Cleveland
W 114–111
Malcolm Brogdon (29)
Domantas Sabonis (5)
T. J. McConnell (13)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 2,720
16–18
35
March 4
Denver
L 103–113
Myles Turner (22)
Myles Turner (12)
Domantas Sabonis (10)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
16–19
36
March 12
@ L.A. Lakers
L 100–105
Malcolm Brogdon (29)
Domantas Sabonis (14)
Domantas Sabonis (8)
Staples Center 0
16–20
37
March 13
@ Phoenix
W 122–111
Malcolm Brogdon (25)
Domantas Sabonis (13)
Domantas Sabonis (10)
Phoenix Suns Arena 3,166
17–20
38
March 15
@ Denver
L 106–121
Malcolm Brogdon (24)
Sabonis, Turner (9)
Domantas Sabonis (10)
Ball Arena 0
17–21
39
March 17
Brooklyn
L 115–124
Malcolm Brogdon (24)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
17–22
40
March 19
@ Miami
W 137–110
Malcolm Brogdon (27)
Domantas Sabonis (15)
T. J. McConnell (15)
American Airlines Arena 0
18–22
41
March 21
@ Miami
W 109–106
Domantas Sabonis (17)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
Malcolm Brogdon (10)
American Airlines Arena 0
19–22
42
March 22
@ Milwaukee
L 113–140
Domantas Sabonis (22)
Domantas Sabonis (9)
T. J. McConnell (7)
Fiserv Forum 3,280
19–23
43
March 24
Detroit
W 116–111
Caris LeVert (28)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
T. J. McConnell (5)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
20–23
44
March 26
@ Dallas
W 109–94
Brogdon, Sabonis (22)
Domantas Sabonis (15)
Domantas Sabonis (5)
American Airlines Center 4,132
21–23
45
March 29
@ Washington
L 124–132
Domantas Sabonis (35)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
T. J. McConnell (9)
Capital One Arena 0
21–24
46
March 31
Miami
L 87–92
Myles Turner (15)
Domantas Sabonis (14)
Caris LeVert (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
21–25 :
April: 8–8 (home: 3–6; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
47
April 2
Charlotte
L 97–114
Caris LeVert (16)
Domantas Sabonis (10)
T. J. McConnell (7)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
21–26
48
April 3
@ San Antonio
W 139–133
Caris LeVert (26)
Bitadze, Turner (7)
Caris LeVert (9)
AT&T Center 3,276
22–26
49
April 6
Chicago
L 97–113
Caris LeVert (10)
Lamb, LeVert (6)
Goga Bitadze (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
22–27
50
April 7
Minnesota
W 141–137
Aaron Holiday (22)
Kelan Martin (6)
T. J. McConnell (15)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
23–27
51
April 9
@ Orlando
W 111–106
Aaron Holiday (20)
Domantas Sabonis (15)
T. J. McConnell (9)
Amway Center 3,777
24–27
52
April 11
@ Memphis
W 132–125
Caris LeVert (34)
Malcolm Brogdon (29)
Domantas Sabonis (18)
FedEx Forum 0
25–27
53
April 13
L.A. Clippers
L 115–126
Malcolm Brogdon (29)
Caris LeVert (26)
Domantas Sabonis (20)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
25–28
54
April 14
@ Houston
W 132–124
Caris LeVert (27)
Malcolm Brogdon (14)
Malcolm Brogdon (9)
Toyota Center 3,293
26–28
55
April 16
@ Utah
L 111–119
Caris LeVert (24)
Domantas Sabonis (15)
T. J. McConnell (8)
Vivint Arena 5,546
26–29
56
April 18
@ Atlanta
L 117–129
Malcolm Brogdon (29)
Domantas Sabonis (14)
Malcolm Brogdon (8)
State Farm Arena 0
26–30
57
April 19
San Antonio
L 94–109
Brogdon, LeVert (18)
Goga Bitadze (9)
Edmond Sumner (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
26–31
58
April 21
Oklahoma City
W 122–116
Malcolm Brogdon (29)
Malcolm Brogdon (15)
T. J. McConnell (8)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
27–31
59
April 24
Detroit
W 115–109
Malcolm Brogdon (26)
Oshae Brissett (11)
T. J. McConnell (13)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
28–31
60
April 25
@ Orlando
W 131–112
Malcolm Brogdon (24)
Brissett, Brogdon (8)
Malcolm Brogdon (9)
Amway Center 3,519
29–31
61
April 27
Portland
L 112–133
Brissett, Brogdon (18)
Oshae Brissett (10)
T. J. McConnell (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
29–32
62
April 29
Brooklyn
L 113–130
Caris LeVert (36)
Oshae Brissett (9)
LeVert, McConnell (5)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
29–33 :
May: 5–5 (home: 2–4; road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
63
May 1
@ Oklahoma City
W 152–95
Doug McDermott (31)
Domantas Sabonis (19)
Domantas Sabonis (14)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
30–33
64
May 3
@ Washington
L 141–154
Caris LeVert (33)
Domantas Sabonis (32)
Justin Holiday (15)
Capital One Arena 0
30–34
65
May 5
Sacramento
L 93–104
Caris LeVert (14)
Domantas Sabonis (10)
Domantas Sabonis (13)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
30–35
66
May 6
Atlanta
W 133–126
Domantas Sabonis (30)
Brissett, Sabonis (8)
Caris LeVert (12)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
31–35
67
May 8
Washington
L 132–133
Caris LeVert (35)
Caris LeVert (14)
Domantas Sabonis (13)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
31–36
68
May 11
@ Cleveland
W 111–102
Kelan Martin (25)
Domantas Sabonis (20)
Caris LeVert (10)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 4,148
32–36
69
May 12
Philadelphia
W 103–94
Caris LeVert (24)
Domantas Sabonis (13)
Domantas Sabonis (15)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
33–36
70
May 14
Milwaukee
L 133–142
Justin Holiday (26)
Kelan Martin (9)
Domantas Sabonis (14)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
33–37
71
May 15
L.A. Lakers
L 115–122
Caris LeVert (28)
Goga Bitadze (7)
Caris LeVert (12)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
33–38
72
May 16
@ Toronto
W 125–113
Oshae Brissett (31)
Domantas Sabonis (16)
T. J. McConnell (17)
Amalie Arena 0
34–38 :
2020–21 season schedule :

### Play-in

2021 play-in game log Total: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1) :
Play-in: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
May 19
Charlotte
W 144–117
Oshae Brissett (23)
Domantas Sabonis (21)
Domantas Sabonis (9)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
1–0
2
May 21
@ Washington
L 115–142
Malcolm Brogdon (24)
Domantas Sabonis (11)
Domantas Sabonis (10)
Capital One Arena 0
1–1 :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Justin Holiday | SG | 72 | 52 | 2,183 | 256 | 119 | 74 | 41 | 756 | 30.3 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 1.0 | .6 | 10.5 |
| T. J. McConnell | PG | 69 | 3 | 1,796 | 256 | 456 | 128 | 23 | 596 | 26.0 | 3.7 | 6.6 | 1.9 | .3 | 8.6 |
| Doug McDermott | PF | 66 | 29 | 1,619 | 221 | 85 | 20 | 6 | 899 | 24.5 | 3.3 | 1.3 | .3 | .1 | 13.6 |
| Aaron Holiday | PG | 66 | 8 | 1,176 | 89 | 123 | 46 | 13 | 475 | 17.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 | .7 | .2 | 7.2 |
| Domantas Sabonis | PF | 62 | 62 | 2,231 | 742 | 415 | 76 | 33 | 1,260 | 36.0 | 12.0 | 6.7 | 1.2 | .5 | 20.3 |
| Malcolm Brogdon | PG | 56 | 56 | 1,930 | 294 | 329 | 49 | 15 | 1,186 | 34.5 | 5.3 | 5.9 | .9 | .3 | 21.2 |
| Edmond Sumner | SG | 53 | 24 | 861 | 94 | 49 | 33 | 10 | 399 | 16.2 | 1.8 | .9 | .6 | .2 | 7.5 |
| Myles Turner | C | 47 | 47 | 1,455 | 306 | 48 | 40 | 159 | 592 | 31.0 | 6.5 | 1.0 | .9 | 3.4 | 12.6 |
| Goga Bitadze | C | 45 | 3 | 561 | 150 | 37 | 9 | 60 | 231 | 12.5 | 3.3 | .8 | .2 | 1.3 | 5.1 |
| Jeremy Lamb | SG | 36 | 8 | 765 | 131 | 53 | 34 | 23 | 363 | 21.3 | 3.6 | 1.5 | .9 | .6 | 10.1 |
| Caris LeVert$^†$ | SG | 35 | 35 | 1,152 | 162 | 173 | 53 | 24 | 726 | 32.9 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 1.5 | .7 | 20.7 |
| Kelan Martin | SF | 35 | 0 | 322 | 78 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 157 | 9.2 | 2.2 | .5 | .3 | .3 | 4.5 |
| JaKarr Sampson | PF | 29 | 4 | 316 | 77 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 134 | 10.9 | 2.7 | .1 | .1 | .5 | 4.6 |
| Cassius Stanley | SG | 24 | 0 | 93 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 36 | 3.9 | .8 | .0 | .0 | .1 | 1.5 |
| Oshae Brissett | SF | 21 | 16 | 519 | 115 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 229 | 24.7 | 5.5 | .9 | .9 | 1.0 | 10.9 |
| Victor Oladipo$^†$ | SG | 9 | 9 | 300 | 51 | 38 | 15 | 2 | 180 | 33.3 | 5.7 | 4.2 | 1.7 | .2 | 20.0 |
| Brian Bowen | SF | 6 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2.5 | .5 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .5 |
| Amida Brimah | C | 5 | 0 | 29 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 5.8 | 1.6 | .2 | .0 | 1.0 | 2.6 |
| T. J. Warren | SF | 4 | 4 | 117 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 62 | 29.3 | 3.5 | 1.3 | .5 | .0 | 15.5 |
| Jalen Lecque | PG | 4 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3.0 | 1.3 | .5 | .0 | .0 | 1.3 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only.

## Transactions
### Trades

| November 25, 2020 | To Indiana PacersJalen Lecque | To Oklahoma City ThunderT. J. Leaf 2027 second-round pick |
| January 13, 2021 (Four-team trade) | To Indiana PacersCaris LeVert (from Brooklyn) 2023 second-round pick (from Houston) (Jalen Pickett) 2024 second-round pick (from Cleveland) (Tristen Newton) | To Brooklyn NetsJames Harden (from Houston) |
| January 13, 2021 (Four-team trade) | To Houston RocketsVictor Oladipo (from Indiana) Dante Exum (from Cleveland) Rodions Kurucs (from Brooklyn) 2022 first-round pick (from Brooklyn via Milwaukee) (MarJon Beauchamp) 2022 first-round pick (from Brooklyn) (Tari Eason) 2024 first-round pick (from Brooklyn) (Reed Sheppard) 2026 first-round pick (from Brooklyn) | To Cleveland CavaliersJarrett Allen (from Brooklyn) Taurean Prince (from Brooklyn) Draft rights to Sasha Vezenkov (from Brooklyn) (2017, Pick 57) |

### Free Agents
#### Additions

| Player | Date Signed | Contract | Former Team |
| Rayshaun Hammonds | November 19, 2020 | Exhibit 10 contract | Georgia |
| Amida Brimah | November 29, 2020 | Exhibit 10 contract | Austin Spurs |
| Kelan Martin | November 29, 2020 | 2 year, $3.1 million contract | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Devin Robinson | December 18, 2020 | Exhibit 10 contract | Raptors 905 |
| Josh Gray | December 18, 2020 | Exhibit 10 contract | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Oshae Brissett | April 1, 2021 | 10-day contract | Fort Wayne Mad Ants |
* ↑ Hammonds signed a second Exhibit 10 contract on November 29.
* ↑ Brimah was officially waived by the team on December 18. However, he re-signed with the Pacers to a two-way contract on April 23.
* ↑ Gray played with the New Orleans Pelicans through the 2019–20 season, and was officially traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 24, 2020, but waived later in December 1.
* ↑ Brissett signed a second 10-day contract on April 11, and eventually signed a 2 year, $2.4 million contract with the Pacers on April 21.

#### Subtractions

| Player | Reason Left | Date Left | New Team |
| Rayshaun Hammonds | Waived | December 18, 2020 | Fort Wayne Mad Ants |
| Devin Robinson | Waived | December 19, 2020 | Fort Wayne Mad Ants |
| Josh Gray | Waived | December 19, 2020 | Fort Wayne Mad Ants |
| Naz Mitrou-Long | Waived | December 19, 2020 | Fort Wayne Mad Ants |
| Jalen Lecque | Waived | March 25, 2021 | Wisconsin Herd |
| Brian Bowen | Waived | April 23, 2021 | Minnesota Timberwolves |