The Pacers became the first NBA team formally eliminated from postseason contention after they lost at Sacramento on Tuesday night and Charlotte picked up a victory in Portland, tweets Tony East of Circle City Spin.
Indiana has lost 10 straight games and currently has the worst record in the league at 15-50 (Sacramento improved to 16-50 with the win). Charlotte holds the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference at 33-33, and since the Pacers only have 17 games remaining, they have no way to make up the 17.5-game deficit.
As Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star writes (subscription required), the Pacers were up 20 points with 4:58 remaining in the third quarter, but struggled the rest of the way. This is just the 10th time in the past 37 seasons that Indiana won’t make the playoffs.
“Crazy game,” Carlisle said. “End of the third quarter obviously was a big problem for us and their bench just played an unbelievable last 15 minutes of the game. Just tremendous. So you gotta give them a lot of credit. Their shot-making and aggression — all that — was big-time. We had some pretty good looks. They didn’t go in. That was disappointing. We did an awful lot of good things in the first two-and-a-half quarters, but unfortunately the last 18 minutes count.”
The Pacers have been decimated by injuries all season, Dopirak notes. As long as they hold a bottom-three record when 2025/26 ends, they’ll have a 52.1% chance at landing a top-four pick and 14.0% odds for the No. 1 selection. That’s noteworthy, because the 2026 first-round pick they traded to the Clippers for Ivica Zubac is top-four (and 10-30) protected.
The star of the game for the Kings was Devin Carter, who didn’t play at all in the first half, writes Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. The 2024 lottery pick erupted for 22 points in the fourth quarter, finishing with a career-high 24 points, five rebounds and three assists in only 16 minutes of action.
“It felt great, especially my teammates trusting me, putting the ball in my hands,” Carter said. “They set me up for success, so it felt great.”
Carter admitted it’s been a tough season, as he hasn’t played much in year two. He has only made 27 appearances in 2025/26 and is averaging just 14.3 minutes per game.
“I haven’t been in the rotation much, so I wasn’t expecting too much,” Carter said. “Just trying to put my work in and stay ready.”
Carter has been ruled out of Tuesday’s game vs. Charlotte due to right calf soreness, Anderson tweets. Fellow guards Russell Westbrook (right quad contusion) and Malik Monk (right ankle soreness) will be sidelined as well.
Kings head coach Doug Christie voiced his opposition to tanking prior to Monday’s game, Dopirak adds.
“This is just me personally, I don’t mess with the game,” Christie said. “You do not mess with the game. You let the game do what it’s gonna do. There has to be a respect for the game and how you go about the game and how you play the game. In my opinion, stuff like that scars the players.
“How can I hold you accountable when there was a point where I was like, ‘Eh…’ You know, that’s just me. In many ways, we have to continuously protect our game and make sure that when we lace them up and we go out there, we’re giving our all always.”
Pacers are playing with fire. 5th pick Clippers via Pacers, ouch. Notoriously tight in the money department. Possibly gave up quite a bit for Zubac just to save money. Absolutely disastrous if Pacers down land 1-4.
It could be considering this is a stacked draft. But the Pacers were in the finals last year and should be getting healthy come next year, so they’re all in
If the get a top three pick (Boozer, Dybantsa, or a healthy Peterson) they’ll be a tier 1 team soon. AJ is especially scary, because he could just slot into Sikam’s role after a while (but younger and better)
I think they’ll be ok even if the pic doesn’t convey, this is a nightmare season all around. The team has had horrible injury luck, they’re clearly exhausted from the finals, their best player has been out for the whole season, and they decided long ago that they’d intentionally tank. When Haliburton comes back, if he can play at the same level he was on in ‘25 I can see them getting similar seeding to last year and even making another deep run. The roster largely hasn’t changed aside from losing Myles Turner and adding Jay Huff and Zubac, and they’re keeping the latter on the rocks in order to support the tank.
Adding a top 5 talent in this year’s draft could be the difference maker to turning the Pacers into a dynasty instead of just an what if team.
Correct.
I agree pmc. I think considering they’ll get a huge portion of their roster back and still have relatively the same core with the addition of Zu, they should definitely be back in the mix next season.
Who knows about a return to the finals, but the East hasn’t been very competitive for awhile. Don’t think that’ll change soon.
Doug Christie also do not mess with smelling salt.
actually the bottom 3 teams have equal chance of grabbing #1 pick (14%) and equal chance of a top 4 pick (52.1%)
That’s right. Thanks for the correction.
Raynaud — 33 mins, 18 pts, 11 reb, 2 blk
Swing n a miss for Warriors. 2nd rd pick Unreal
Carter — 16 mins, 24 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast
This is for my Miserable Kings fan. Who has lost his way. And is shut out from the light. A #1 pick deserves a chance to fail on his own. It’s best to coach them and trade them. Than to just dump him …….
link to yardbarker.com
Sacramento Kings comeback may have come from lack of faith in Devin Carter
Ever hear the expression about blind mice Al? Raynaud had some stiff competition last night huh? Oh that’s right you just google the stats. Who played for the Pacers last night as they became the first team to be officially out of the playoffs? Please enlighten us.
Al has an unhealthy relationship with Raynaud.
Really posting his gm stats for you.
Bonr is a misguide fool. Has no clue what I do. All things are miserable thru his eyes.
You are just a non —— you still want to tell me how much better Post is ….
What does competition have to do with a rookie starting in the NBA. He didn’t pick the schedule. If you can’t see this guy has real talent. Then you are what I think you are. He is already the best rookie center talent in draft. He is top 5 in ROY standings. I have watched enough of him to believe this. You don’t know shhh about him. I am not here to praise him. I am here to show how dumb Warriors were to pass on him. And torment the Areses that deny his value like you do. A Warrior team that is still looking for a center. LMAO What part of that don’t you get. He has already shown to be a great pick at 42. Thats not even a discussion. So what could you possibly want here.
Go look at Carter lol. Cause there is another player you don’t know shhh about.
Wait… I agree with you that Raynaud has skills. But what does his play have to do with the Warriors? What about the other 28 teams that didn’t draft him, why not call them out too?
I like Raynaud, but I’m not really clamoring to have him as a Warriors fan. I think he would have been a fine pick and was thinking they might snag him, but they traded down and grabbed Will, which has worked out well so far.
I agree with you on Carter too. Really liked him out of college and think he can definitely have an NBA career. It was a tough jump out the gate for him to start his career with that shoulder injury. But he’s plus defender and maybe can find his shot.
This doesn’t concern you or Bonr …. this is for the Wagoneers who trashed Raynaud.
He was the 42 pick the Warriors passed on. The center they are still looking for. You need me to explain that….
Well, they actually traded the 42nd pick well before it was the time to select FOR the 42nd pick.
I don’t know who’s trashing Raynaud, but their wrong for it lol
I think the Warriors system right now doesn’t really need to have a “center”. Dubs play a lot of position-less basketball and definitely need size and length, but I don’t think it necessarily has to come from the center position.
If the Warriors drafted Raynaud, I would have been totally ok with that pick, but they didn’t and I’m not losing sleep over it
Al is upset that I pointed out that all pre-draft scouting reports on Raynaud said that he is soft defensively. On the other hand, Post was an all ACC Defensive Team selection. So, why would the Warriors draft someone who soft defensively?
Nobody is trashing Raynaud. Al here thinks that Raynaud plus whoever Sacramento picks this year will be enough to make them playoff hopefuls. All while not watching the games and only copy and pasting game stats the next night.
I’ve trashed Carter plenty and as someone who has watched almost all of his minutes I reserve the right to do so. He’s a back of the bench guy on good teams. He is Jose Alvarado at his very best.
I want to hope that these young guys on the Kings will lead them to glory one day. But that day won’t be for at least a few years.
But yeah, realistically, Raynaud hasn’t shown yet that he’s a center that you’re going to build around. Offensively he’s gifted, but his slow feet on defense hurts him. But he’s only a rookie, so plenty of time to improve.
Fair to think what you want on Carter. Obviously hasn’t been able to figure it all out yet, but I wouldn’t give up hope on him yet. He’s only a second year player and those dang Kings keep playing the vets and don’t let the young guns loose.
I like Clifford too honestly. I do think the Kings have drafted well the past couple of years, but unfortunately Vivek just has a chokehold on that franchise now. I’ll be always rooting for the Kings from afar
We’ll see how those guys both look in summer league. Hoping for some dominance.
So you all quite about Carter …. You lost your mind yet …..
The Clippers could win big here, I dont think Indiana needs to tank to lose but maybe they are better off doing so just to make sure lol
Scot Oerry is a briwn noser. Who doesn’t care about development of players. Only of players he selected. He is all about himself. So he will never help Carter. Perry is actually worse than your DA. So he will have to do it himself. Like he did last night. Finding talent is what I do. Love it. Been doing all my life. Can’t be right all the time. But it’s a lot of FUN. Look that word up. See if you remember what that felt like.
Hard to imagine you’re great at finding talent when you can’t even find the right keys when they’re sitting in front of you.
You got me keys and basketball talent are the same.
Takes talent to know talent. Been doing this all my life. Comes easy to me. And loads of fun. I know you can’t grasp that. You lost that long ago.
washington__bonercats
March 11, 2026
Ever hear the expression about blind mice Al? Raynaud had some stiff competition last night huh? Oh that’s right you just google the stats. Who played for the Pacers last night as they became the first team to be officially out of the playoffs? Please enlighten us.
bonr is just a miserable Kings fan who can’t fathom they might have actually do e something right.
Nothing I say about Raynaud gas anything to do with you. Why must you nake this about your grief. Go yank it lol. It could put a smile on your face.
ALL MY RAYNAUD posts are for this clown 👇👇👇
Giants74
March 11, 2026
Al has an unhealthy relationship with Raynaud.
Who trashed him just cause I picked him for Warriors. Trashed him without ever knowing wtF he is. Or bothering to look him up. To this day. Even though he played in his backyard. There are a few WAGONEERS here who trashed him just cause I called out the Warriors on passing on him.
So now you know my side. And it’s all that natters. Since I am the only one reminding them about it.
Its pretty simple — swing-n-a-miss. And with every game Raynaud just gets better. And tge clowns still want to trash him. I’m amused. I’ll ride it till the season is over. Right now he is top 5 ROY. And I am loving it.
bonr you wanted in so you are …….
For the Bon r and the Wagoneers ….. all together lols
“Sacrebleu On craint” 😱😱😱😱😱
🎵The Bon r and the Wagoneers 🎶🎶🎵
He was the 42nd pick 🎵
A day to remember 🎶
Never heard of him. Never saw him play 🎶🎵
I just can’t stand it when KnickerbockerAl is right 🎶
“Sacrebleu On craint” sheebop sheebop 🎶🎵🎵
Come on … lets all sing along 😂😱😂😱
Here’s another genius Wagoneer. Thinks he got answers ……. Clueless and ignorance SAD.
WGaryRedSoxxWarriors
January 23, 2026
By the way against the Cavaliers tonight, who have two excellent big men, Maxine is having such a wonderful game. Yep a quality big man lol. Whoever labeled him as that, I can only guess from conversations of two months ago. Evidence states otherwise. It’s ridiculous the amount of garbage spewed by commenters on this site who have no clue. “Warriors need a big man” they cry. “Here’s a guy who was great in college” they bemoan. Yup, simply displaying zero NBA basketball acumen.
WAGONEER ——- Sheebop sheebop
Bartender! I’ll have what he’s having!!
So why are you not telling me about Carter. I heard he read your posts about him. Said he would make you have a BON R about Kings one day.
Congrats Pacers!
Wait, does this mean the knicks have a shot at making the finals now that the Pacers are not going to be able to eliminate them again! #ThankYouPacers
The Bon r and the Wagoneers 🎵🎵🎶
“Sacrebleu On craint” sheebop sheebop 🎶🎵🎵
Come on … lets all sing along 😂😱😂😱
sheebop sheebop 🎶🎵🎶🎶
“Sacrebleu On craint” sheebop sheebop 🎶🎵🎵