Heat Look to Bounce Back Against Injury-Riddled Pacers

Miami aims to end recent skid against lowly Indiana squad

Mar. 29, 2026 at 4:05pm

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The Miami Heat, losers of six of their last seven games, will look to get back on track on the road against the struggling Indiana Pacers. Indiana, currently the 15th seed in the Eastern Conference, has been plagued by injuries all season and has lost nine of its last 10 games. This matchup presents an opportunity for the Heat to secure a much-needed win as they fight to avoid the play-in tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

Why it matters

The Heat's recent struggles have put them in a precarious position, sitting at the 10th and final play-in seed in the East with just eight games remaining. A loss to the lowly Pacers could be a devastating blow to Miami's playoff hopes, making this a must-win game as they try to turn things around before the end of the regular season.

The details

The Heat will be without guard Norman Powell, who is dealing with an upper respiratory illness. This could open up more playing time for Pelle Larsson, as well as increased offensive responsibilities for Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. The Pacers, meanwhile, have a lengthy injury report, with several key players listed as questionable, including Tyrese Haliburton, who has been out all season with an Achilles tear.

  • The Heat and Pacers have already met twice this season, with the series tied 1-1.
  • This will be the third and final matchup between the two teams.

The players

Tyrese Haliburton

The Pacers' star point guard has been sidelined all season with an Achilles tear suffered in last year's NBA Finals.

Norman Powell

The Heat guard will miss Sunday's game due to an upper respiratory illness.

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What they’re saying

“If the Miami Heat fail to secure a victory on Sunday, it's going to be another rock bottom moment less than 10 games away from the end of the regular season.”

— Dan Riccio, Author

What’s next

The Heat will need to secure a win against the Pacers to keep their playoff hopes alive and avoid falling further behind in the Eastern Conference standings.

The takeaway

This game represents a crucial opportunity for the Heat to get back on track and regain their footing in the playoff race. A loss to the injury-depleted Pacers would be a devastating blow, making this a must-win matchup for Miami as they fight to avoid the play-in tournament.