Hornets Emulate Pacers' Playoff Run With Uptempo Attack

Charlotte's fast-paced style mirrors Indiana's surprise Finals appearance last season.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:33pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the chaotic energy of a fast-paced NBA basketball game, with players and the court broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color.The Hornets' high-octane offense, inspired by the Pacers' playoff run, is deconstructed into a cubist masterpiece.Charlotte Today

The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the surprise teams in the 2025-26 NBA season, earning a Play-In Tournament berth with their explosive offense and relentless pace that mirrors the Indiana Pacers' style from last year's playoffs. Hornets players say they 'modeled their game' after the Pacers, who made an unexpected run to the Finals, and hope to replicate that success in the postseason.

Why it matters

The Hornets' uptempo approach has made them an exciting team to watch this season, and their ability to emulate the Pacers' success could inspire hope in Charlotte that they can make a deep playoff run of their own. The similarities between LaMelo Ball and Tyrese Haliburton also suggest the Hornets have found a winning formula by following the Pacers' blueprint.

The details

The Hornets have embraced an up-tempo, pace-and-space offense this season, with players like Miles Bridges citing the Pacers as the inspiration. Both teams thrive in transition and love to push the pace, with their star guards - Ball and Haliburton - excelling at creating unique passing angles. While the Hornets may not have the same level of star power as the Pacers, their depth of talent has allowed them to succeed with a similar style of play.

  • The Hornets earned the 9th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 record.
  • The Hornets will need to win two games in the Play-In Tournament to advance to the playoffs.

The players

LaMelo Ball

The Hornets' star point guard, who shares similarities with Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton in his ability to thrive in transition and create for his teammates.

Miles Bridges

A Hornets forward who said the team 'modeled their game' after the Pacers' uptempo style last season.

Tyrese Haliburton

The Pacers' star guard, whose fast-paced, pass-first style inspired the Hornets to adopt a similar approach this season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We can do that too. We kind of modeled our game after that. We want to get out and run like this.”

— Miles Bridges, Hornets forward

“They gave the blueprint for a lot. We might not have like the superstar, All-Star, All-NBA guy, but we got a lot of good players. When we play fast and we have a bunch of guys that can really contribute, it's just a good style for us.”

— Knueppel

What’s next

If the Hornets can win their Play-In Tournament games, they will advance to the NBA playoffs, where they will look to emulate the Pacers' surprising run to the Finals last season.

The takeaway

The Hornets' uptempo, fast-paced style has made them an exciting team to watch this season, and their ability to follow the blueprint laid out by the Pacers last year suggests they could be poised for a deep playoff run of their own if they can get past the Play-In Tournament.