NBA releases Pacers schedule

Apr 15, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard

(3) during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies beat Indiana Pacers 95-83 Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

DECEMBER/JANUARY

These two months feature many challenges for the Pacers, who will likely have a full rotation and pattern at this point if Bird’s offseason plans have gone his way.

December opens up with a west coast road trip that is followed by a return home to host the defending champions the Golden State Warriors, and three days later the Heat are in town again along with ESPN on December 11.

The Pacers were snubbed a Christmas Day matchup again this year, clearly exploiting the NBA’s marketing flaws as having a player named Christmas in a NBA Christmas jersey is the best plot of the year, but I digress. Instead, the Pacers are in Minnesota on the 26th.

Indy’s Blue and Gold are in action on New Years Eve at home against the Milwaukee Bucks, have New Years Day off, then play the Pistons on the 2nd of January, also at home as the first game of 2016.

Following that game, the Pacers begin a week long road trip to Miami, Orlando, New Orleans, and Houston and return home on the 12th to host Phoenix. The only other notable January games are the Pacers trip to Oracle Arena in the second of two games against the Warriors on the 22nd, also on ESPN, and Lance Stephenson‘s return to Indiana with his new team the Clippers on the 26th.