The 2005-06 Indiana Pacers experienced a season of transition and challenges. They finished with a 41-41 record, securing the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. The team was led by Jermaine O’Neal, who averaged 20.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, despite battling injuries throughout the season. Stephen Jackson also played a crucial role, contributing 16.4 points per game.
Off-court issues and injuries impacted the team’s consistency, including the mid-season trade that sent Ron Artest to the Sacramento Kings, bringing in Peja Stojaković. In the playoffs, the Pacers faced the New Jersey Nets in the first round. Indiana won the first game but ultimately succumbed to a 4-2 series defeat. This season marked the end of an era, as it was the last playoff appearance for the Pacers under head coach Rick Carlisle, who was replaced in the offseason.
- Regular Season Record: 41-41
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-4
Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats for 2005-06 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Jermaine O'Neal | 51 | 20.1 | 9.3 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 30.0 | 6 | 21.0 | 7.5 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 0.0 |
| Peja Stojaković | 40 | 19.5 | 6.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 40.4 | 2 | 11.0 | 4.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Metta World Peace | 16 | 19.4 | 4.9 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Stephen Jackson | 81 | 16.4 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 34.5 | 6 | 13.3 | 4.5 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 23.1 |
| Fred Jones | 68 | 9.6 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 33.7 | 6 | 7.8 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 37.5 |
| Jamaal Tinsley | 42 | 9.3 | 3.2 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 22.9 | 1 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Anthony Johnson | 75 | 9.2 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 32.9 | 6 | 20.0 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 40.0 |
| Austin Croshere | 50 | 8.2 | 5.3 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 38.6 | 6 | 8.2 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 39.1 |
| Danny Granger | 78 | 7.5 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 32.3 | 6 | 8.2 | 5.2 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 56.2 |
| Šarūnas Jasikevičius | 75 | 7.3 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 36.4 | 6 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 22.2 |
| Jeff Foster | 63 | 5.9 | 9.1 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 4 | 2.8 | 6.0 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| David Harrison | 67 | 5.7 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 6 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Jonathan Bender | 2 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Scot Pollard | 45 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 4 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eddie Gill | 41 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 30.4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Samaki Walker | 7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Indiana Pacers in the 2006 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. New Jersey Nets
In the 2006 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers faced the New Jersey Nets in the first round. Despite a spirited effort, the Pacers were unable to advance, falling to the Nets in six games. Jermaine O'Neal and Peja Stojaković led Indiana, but the team struggled to contain Vince Carter and Jason Kidd, who were instrumental in the Nets' series victory.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2006 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 90-88 | |
| Apr 25, 2006 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 90-75 | |
| Apr 27, 2006 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 107-95 | |
| Apr 29, 2006 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 97-88 | |
| May 02, 2006 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 92-86 | |
| May 04, 2006 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 96-90 |
Indiana Pacers 2005-06 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2005-06 season for the Indiana Pacers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 02, 2005 | @ Orlando Magic | W 90-78 | |
| Nov 03, 2005 | @ Miami Heat | W 105-102 | |
| Nov 05, 2005 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 111-109 | |
| Nov 09, 2005 | vs. Miami Heat | W 95-90 | |
| Nov 11, 2005 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 102-90 | |
| Nov 12, 2005 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 103-102 | |
| Nov 16, 2005 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 122-90 | |
| Nov 18, 2005 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 93-85 | |
| Nov 20, 2005 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 85-74 | |
| Nov 24, 2005 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 98-76 | |
| Nov 25, 2005 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 87-85 | |
| Nov 27, 2005 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 97-92 | |
| Nov 29, 2005 | @ Utah Jazz | W 84-60 | |
| Nov 30, 2005 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 109-91 | |
| Dec 02, 2005 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 98-78 | |
| Dec 04, 2005 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 107-102 | |
| Dec 06, 2005 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 84-75 | |
| Dec 08, 2005 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 111-87 | |
| Dec 10, 2005 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 80-66 | |
| Dec 14, 2005 | @ Boston Celtics | L 85-71 | |
| Dec 16, 2005 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 93-83 | |
| Dec 17, 2005 | @ New York Knicks | W 102-96 | |
| Dec 21, 2005 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 97-75 | |
| Dec 23, 2005 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 94-89 | |
| Dec 26, 2005 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 102-80 | |
| Dec 27, 2005 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 99-86 | |
| Dec 30, 2005 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 99-97 | |
| Jan 02, 2006 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 115-96 | |
| Jan 04, 2006 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 106-86 | |
| Jan 05, 2006 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 99-89 | |
| Jan 08, 2006 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 108-83 | |
| Jan 09, 2006 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 96-90 | |
| Jan 11, 2006 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 112-88 | |
| Jan 13, 2006 | vs. Washington Wizards | L 94-85 | |
| Jan 14, 2006 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 91-89 | |
| Jan 16, 2006 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 97-92 | |
| Jan 18, 2006 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 98-92 | |
| Jan 20, 2006 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 90-85 | |
| Jan 21, 2006 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 101-89 | |
| Jan 23, 2006 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 104-94 | |
| Jan 24, 2006 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 96-66 | |
| Jan 27, 2006 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 93-89 | |
| Jan 31, 2006 | @ Washington Wizards | L 84-79 | |
| Feb 01, 2006 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 105-79 | |
| Feb 04, 2006 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 93-85 | |
| Feb 08, 2006 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 101-69 | |
| Feb 10, 2006 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 107-95 | |
| Feb 12, 2006 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 92-88 | |
| Feb 15, 2006 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 88-77 | |
| Feb 21, 2006 | vs. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets | W 97-75 | |
| Feb 23, 2006 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 88-83 | |
| Feb 24, 2006 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 117-112 | |
| Feb 26, 2006 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 101-91 | |
| Mar 01, 2006 | @ Washington Wizards | W 99-93 | |
| Mar 03, 2006 | @ Boston Celtics | L 99-98 | |
| Mar 05, 2006 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 94-93 | |
| Mar 07, 2006 | vs. New York Knicks | L 107-92 | |
| Mar 08, 2006 | @ Houston Rockets | L 103-99 | |
| Mar 10, 2006 | @ New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets | W 92-90 | |
| Mar 12, 2006 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 93-89 | |
| Mar 13, 2006 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 97-83 | |
| Mar 15, 2006 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 101-99 | |
| Mar 17, 2006 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 98-93 | |
| Mar 19, 2006 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 103-88 | |
| Mar 21, 2006 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 105-75 | |
| Mar 22, 2006 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 95-85 | |
| Mar 24, 2006 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 75-72 | |
| Mar 26, 2006 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 92-79 | |
| Mar 27, 2006 | @ Miami Heat | L 96-91 | |
| Mar 29, 2006 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 94-93 | |
| Mar 30, 2006 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 114-104 | |
| Apr 01, 2006 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 96-89 | |
| Apr 04, 2006 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 102-96 | |
| Apr 05, 2006 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 111-103 | |
| Apr 07, 2006 | @ New York Knicks | L 98-96 | |
| Apr 09, 2006 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 98-73 | |
| Apr 10, 2006 | vs. New York Knicks | W 101-82 | |
| Apr 12, 2006 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 117-112 | |
| Apr 14, 2006 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 89-77 | |
| Apr 15, 2006 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 92-91 | |
| Apr 17, 2006 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 120-95 | |
| Apr 19, 2006 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 89-83 |