The 1986-87 Indiana Pacers season was a challenging one, as the team struggled to find success in the NBA. Under head coach Jack Ramsay, the Pacers finished with a 41-41 record, placing them fourth in the Central Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference. Despite a balanced roster that included standout players like Chuck Person, who was named NBA Rookie of the Year, the team had difficulty maintaining consistency throughout the season.
The Pacers secured a playoff berth but faced the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Unfortunately, their postseason run was short-lived as they were swept 3-0 by the Hawks. This marked the end of Ramsay’s tenure as head coach, paving the way for a new direction in the following season. Overall, the 1986-87 season highlighted the Pacers’ need to build a more competitive squad to make deeper playoff runs in the future.
- Regular Season Record: 41-41
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 1-3
Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats for 1986-87 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Chuck Person | 82 | 18.8 | 8.3 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 35.5 | 4 | 27.0 | 8.3 | 5.0 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 25.0 |
| John Long | 80 | 15.2 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 28.4 | 4 | 11.0 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 16.7 |
| Herb Williams | 74 | 14.9 | 7.3 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 4 | 11.8 | 5.0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Wayman Tisdale | 81 | 14.5 | 5.9 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 4 | 12.8 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Steve Stipanovich | 81 | 13.2 | 8.3 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 24.9 | 4 | 13.8 | 7.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Vern Fleming | 82 | 12.0 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 20.0 | 4 | 12.3 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Clint Richardson | 78 | 6.4 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 35.3 | 4 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ron Anderson | 63 | 5.8 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Clark Kellogg | 4 | 5.0 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kyle Macy | 76 | 4.9 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 30.4 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Brooks | 10 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walker Russell | 48 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 12.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Stuart Gray | 55 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Pete Verhoeven | 5 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Greg Dreiling | 24 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Indiana Pacers in the 1987 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Atlanta Hawks
In the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers faced off against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Despite a spirited effort, the Pacers were swept in the three-game series, demonstrating the Hawks' superior depth and playoff experience. Indiana's loss underscored their need for further development and roster enhancements to compete at a higher level in future seasons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 110-94 | |
| Apr 26, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 94-93 | |
| Apr 29, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 96-87 | |
| May 01, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 101-97 |
Indiana Pacers 1986-87 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1986-87 season for the Indiana Pacers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1986 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 108-104 | |
| Nov 01, 1986 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 92-89 | |
| Nov 04, 1986 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 125-121 | |
| Nov 05, 1986 | @ Boston Celtics | L 133-102 | |
| Nov 08, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 130-97 | |
| Nov 11, 1986 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 102-94 | |
| Nov 13, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 120-117 | |
| Nov 15, 1986 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 104-103 | |
| Nov 16, 1986 | @ Washington Bullets | L 124-111 | |
| Nov 18, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 98-93 | |
| Nov 20, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 92-83 | |
| Nov 22, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 121-111 | |
| Nov 23, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 108-95 | |
| Nov 26, 1986 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 92-88 | |
| Nov 28, 1986 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 126-102 | |
| Nov 30, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 118-101 | |
| Dec 02, 1986 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 95-88 | |
| Dec 03, 1986 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 116-103 | |
| Dec 05, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 119-113 | |
| Dec 10, 1986 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 122-112 | |
| Dec 11, 1986 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 115-94 | |
| Dec 13, 1986 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 95-91 | |
| Dec 17, 1986 | @ Boston Celtics | L 113-101 | |
| Dec 18, 1986 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 97-88 | |
| Dec 20, 1986 | @ New York Knicks | W 123-99 | |
| Dec 21, 1986 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 104-94 | |
| Dec 23, 1986 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 111-98 | |
| Dec 27, 1986 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 105-93 | |
| Dec 30, 1986 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 111-99 | |
| Jan 02, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 116-106 | |
| Jan 05, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 144-135 | |
| Jan 06, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 101-99 | |
| Jan 08, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | L 110-96 | |
| Jan 10, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | L 105-96 | |
| Jan 13, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 101-94 | |
| Jan 15, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 113-105 | |
| Jan 17, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 119-115 | |
| Jan 19, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 109-95 | |
| Jan 21, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 130-100 | |
| Jan 22, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 118-108 | |
| Jan 24, 1987 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 104-103 | |
| Jan 27, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 114-98 | |
| Jan 30, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 100-94 | |
| Jan 31, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 102-100 | |
| Feb 03, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 99-94 | |
| Feb 05, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 98-93 | |
| Feb 10, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 126-125 | |
| Feb 11, 1987 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 121-105 | |
| Feb 13, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-108 | |
| Feb 14, 1987 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 129-113 | |
| Feb 16, 1987 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 112-93 | |
| Feb 18, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 105-88 | |
| Feb 20, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 107-105 | |
| Feb 22, 1987 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 103-101 | |
| Feb 24, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 120-114 | |
| Feb 26, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | L 100-94 | |
| Feb 27, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 125-115 | |
| Mar 01, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 122-115 | |
| Mar 03, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 109-108 | |
| Mar 07, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 124-120 | |
| Mar 09, 1987 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 107-102 | |
| Mar 11, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 107-98 | |
| Mar 13, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 116-109 | |
| Mar 15, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 123-99 | |
| Mar 16, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 115-95 | |
| Mar 19, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | L 111-105 | |
| Mar 21, 1987 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 77-76 | |
| Mar 23, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 101-92 | |
| Mar 25, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 125-108 | |
| Mar 27, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 100-91 | |
| Mar 28, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 120-114 | |
| Apr 01, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 99-94 | |
| Apr 02, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 119-73 | |
| Apr 04, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | L 112-108 | |
| Apr 07, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 128-114 | |
| Apr 09, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 111-99 | |
| Apr 10, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | W 115-101 | |
| Apr 12, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 116-95 | |
| Apr 13, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 102-101 | |
| Apr 15, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 108-85 | |
| Apr 17, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 115-111 | |
| Apr 18, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 112-103 |