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Pacers Welcome Franchise Legend Before Season Finale
Indiana Pacers lose to Detroit Pistons in final game of dismal season
Apr. 13, 2026 at 7:05am
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A fragmented, cubist-inspired illustration captures the chaotic energy of the Pacers' final game, as the team's season of injuries and struggles comes to a close.Indianapolis TodayThe Indiana Pacers ended their season with a 133-121 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, finishing with the worst record in franchise history at 19-63. Before the game, head coach Rick Carlisle brought in Pacers legend Dale Davis to motivate the team in the locker room. Davis was an All-Star in 2000 and helped the Pacers reach the NBA Finals that year.
Why it matters
The Pacers' disastrous season was marked by a rash of injuries that derailed their playoff hopes. Bringing in a respected franchise icon like Dale Davis was an attempt by Carlisle to inspire the team and end the year on a positive note, despite the lopsided loss.
The details
The Pacers were blown out by the Pistons in their final game, capping off a season in which they struggled with injuries to key players like Tyrese Haliburton, Ivica Zubac, Obi Toppin, and others. Before the game, Carlisle introduced the team to Davis, praising him as 'one of the all-time great enforcers in the NBA' who made big plays and rebounds for the Pacers during his 10-year tenure with the franchise.
- The Pacers lost to the Pistons 133-121 on Sunday, April 13, 2026.
- Davis played for the Pacers from 1991 to 2001, helping the team reach the NBA Finals in 2000.
The players
Rick Carlisle
Head coach of the Indiana Pacers.
Dale Davis
A Pacers franchise legend who played for the team from 1991 to 2001, making the All-Star team in 2000 and helping the team reach the NBA Finals that year.
Tyrese Haliburton
A Pacers player who missed significant time due to injury this season.
Ivica Zubac
A Pacers player who missed significant time due to injury this season.
Obi Toppin
A Pacers player who missed significant time due to injury this season.
What they’re saying
“This is the great Dale Davis. One of the all-time great enforcers in the NBA and for the Pacers. Some of the biggest rebounds in franchise history at the end of games, this guy went up and got. And games like tonight are games that he lived for, where there was stuff going on out there.”
— Rick Carlisle, Head Coach, Indiana Pacers
The takeaway
The Pacers' dismal season, marked by a rash of injuries to key players, ended on a sour note with a blowout loss to the Pistons. However, the team's decision to bring in franchise legend Dale Davis to motivate the players before the finale showed their commitment to honoring the team's history and trying to end the year on a positive note, even if the on-court results did not reflect that.
