The Pacers, who made the Eastern Conference finals a season ago, are led by Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. Siakam (20.2 points per game) was an All-Star in 2025, while Haliburton got better as the season progressed. He averaged 20.6 points and 11 assists per game after the All-Star break.

Damian Lillard is on his way back to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks all-star guard has been out indefinitely with blood clots in his right calf since late March and is missing Game 1 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers.