1995–96 Indiana Pacers season
The 1995–96 NBA season was the Pacers' 20th season in the National Basketball Association, and 29th season as a franchise. During the off-season, the Pacers signed free agents Ricky Pierce and Eddie Johnson. The team struggled with a 6–8 start to the season, as Rik Smits missed 19 games with an ankle injury. The Pacers were also involved in a brawl in a 119–95 home loss to the Sacramento Kings on November 10, 1995, with a total of 16 players, eight from each team suspended. However, the Pacers posted a 14–2 record in January, held a 31–16 record at the All-Star break, and later on won eight of their final nine games of the season. The team finished second in the Central Division with a 52–30 record, which was the same record as the previous season.
| 1995–96 Indiana Pacers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Larry Brown |
| General manager | Donnie Walsh |
| Owner(s) | Herbert Simon |
| Arena | Market Square Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 52–30 (.634) |
| Place | Division: 2nd (Central) Conference: 3rd (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | First round (lost to Hawks 2–3) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | WTTV Prime Sports Midwest |
| Radio | WIBC |
Reggie Miller led the Pacers in scoring averaging 21.1 points per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game, while Smits averaged 18.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. In addition, Derrick McKey provided the team with 11.7 points per game, and was selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while Dale Davis provided with 10.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, and Mark Jackson contributed 10.0 points and 7.8 assists per game. Off the bench, Pierce contributed 9.7 points per game, while sixth man Antonio Davis averaged 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, and Johnson contributed 7.7 points per game. The Pacers were also the only team in the league to beat the Chicago Bulls twice during their historic 72–10 season, with a 103–97 home win on December 26, 1995, and a 100–99 road win on April 20, 1996. However, during the final month of the regular season, Miller suffered an eye socket injury.
Without Miller, the Pacers struggled in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs against the 6th-seeded Atlanta Hawks. Pierce, who usually plays a sixth man role off the bench, became the team's starting shooting guard in Miller's absence. With the series tied at 2–2, Miller would return to play in Game 5 scoring 29 points, while wearing protective eye goggles; however, the Pacers would lose to the Hawks at home, 89–87, thus losing the series in five games.
Following the season, Jackson and Pierce were both traded to the Denver Nuggets.