The 1989-90 Indiana Pacers finished their season with a 42-40 record, securing a spot in the NBA playoffs. Under head coach Dick Versace, the team showed improvement from the previous season, reflecting a more competitive edge in the Central Division. The Pacers were led by standout shooting guard Reggie Miller, who averaged 24.6 points per game and became a key offensive force.
In the postseason, the Pacers faced the Detroit Pistons, the defending champions, in the first round. Despite a valiant effort, the Pacers were swept in three games, showcasing the gap between them and the league’s elite. This season marked a stepping stone for the Pacers, as they continued to build around Miller and aimed to establish themselves as a consistent playoff contender in the early 1990s.
- Regular Season Record: 42-40
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 0-3
Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats for 1989-90 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Reggie Miller | 82 | 24.6 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 41.4 | 3 | 20.7 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 42.9 |
| Chuck Person | 77 | 19.7 | 5.8 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 37.2 | 3 | 13.3 | 6.7 | 4.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 10.0 |
| Detlef Schrempf | 78 | 16.2 | 7.9 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 35.4 | 3 | 20.3 | 7.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Rik Smits | 82 | 15.5 | 6.2 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 12.3 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| Vern Fleming | 82 | 14.3 | 3.9 | 7.4 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 35.3 | 3 | 13.3 | 4.3 | 6.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| LaSalle Thompson | 82 | 6.8 | 7.7 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 20.0 | 3 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Mike Sanders | 82 | 6.2 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 35.7 | 3 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Calvin Natt | 14 | 4.1 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rickey Green | 69 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 9.1 | 3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George McCloud | 44 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 32.5 | 1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Randy Wittman | 61 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 50.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dyron Nix | 20 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Greg Dreiling | 49 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Indiana Pacers in the 1990 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Detroit Pistons
In the first round of the 1990 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers faced off against the Detroit Pistons, the defending champions. Despite a spirited effort led by Reggie Miller, the Pacers were swept in three games by the Pistons, whose stifling defense and veteran experience proved too much for Indiana to overcome. This series highlighted the gap between the Pacers and the elite teams of the era, underscoring their need for further development to become true contenders.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1990 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 104-92 | |
| Apr 28, 1990 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 100-87 | |
| May 01, 1990 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 108-96 |
Indiana Pacers 1989-90 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1989-90 season for the Indiana Pacers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 126-103 | |
| Nov 04, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 106-98 | |
| Nov 08, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 95-74 | |
| Nov 10, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 102-98 | |
| Nov 15, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-94 | |
| Nov 17, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | L 114-100 | |
| Nov 18, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 107-102 | |
| Nov 21, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 119-111 | |
| Nov 24, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | W 118-111 | |
| Nov 25, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 111-103 | |
| Nov 27, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 101-97 | |
| Nov 29, 1989 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 100-88 | |
| Dec 01, 1989 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 125-110 | |
| Dec 06, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 136-117 | |
| Dec 08, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 106-104 | |
| Dec 09, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 121-93 | |
| Dec 12, 1989 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 113-112 | |
| Dec 14, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 102-78 | |
| Dec 15, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 103-98 | |
| Dec 17, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 121-113 | |
| Dec 19, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 128-102 | |
| Dec 20, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 131-130 | |
| Dec 22, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 150-124 | |
| Dec 23, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 98-95 | |
| Dec 26, 1989 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 98-90 | |
| Dec 27, 1989 | @ Orlando Magic | W 106-101 | |
| Dec 29, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 103-97 | |
| Dec 30, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 105-98 | |
| Jan 02, 1990 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 110-106 | |
| Jan 03, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | L 117-103 | |
| Jan 05, 1990 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 122-99 | |
| Jan 06, 1990 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 117-111 | |
| Jan 08, 1990 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 120-116 | |
| Jan 10, 1990 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 120-113 | |
| Jan 12, 1990 | vs. New York Knicks | L 101-96 | |
| Jan 13, 1990 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-109 | |
| Jan 15, 1990 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 144-105 | |
| Jan 17, 1990 | @ Miami Heat | L 121-111 | |
| Jan 19, 1990 | @ Boston Celtics | L 109-104 | |
| Jan 24, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-111 | |
| Jan 26, 1990 | vs. Miami Heat | W 115-105 | |
| Jan 27, 1990 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 91-84 | |
| Jan 30, 1990 | @ Orlando Magic | L 129-111 | |
| Jan 31, 1990 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-108 | |
| Feb 02, 1990 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 87-86 | |
| Feb 03, 1990 | @ New York Knicks | L 112-98 | |
| Feb 06, 1990 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 138-130 | |
| Feb 08, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 105-100 | |
| Feb 13, 1990 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 128-105 | |
| Feb 14, 1990 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 133-131 | |
| Feb 16, 1990 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 111-105 | |
| Feb 18, 1990 | @ Washington Bullets | L 116-97 | |
| Feb 21, 1990 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 123-96 | |
| Feb 23, 1990 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 102-91 | |
| Feb 25, 1990 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 117-112 | |
| Feb 27, 1990 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 118-113 | |
| Feb 28, 1990 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 102-99 | |
| Mar 03, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 107-105 | |
| Mar 04, 1990 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 111-105 | |
| Mar 06, 1990 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 113-98 | |
| Mar 09, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 134-130 | |
| Mar 10, 1990 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 117-105 | |
| Mar 13, 1990 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 103-102 | |
| Mar 16, 1990 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 106-104 | |
| Mar 17, 1990 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 118-102 | |
| Mar 20, 1990 | @ Miami Heat | W 112-98 | |
| Mar 21, 1990 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 112-96 | |
| Mar 23, 1990 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 125-109 | |
| Mar 27, 1990 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 101-96 | |
| Mar 29, 1990 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 111-101 | |
| Apr 01, 1990 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 121-91 | |
| Apr 03, 1990 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 109-102 | |
| Apr 04, 1990 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 121-116 | |
| Apr 06, 1990 | @ Orlando Magic | W 123-115 | |
| Apr 08, 1990 | vs. New York Knicks | W 99-97 | |
| Apr 10, 1990 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 107-105 | |
| Apr 12, 1990 | @ New York Knicks | L 108-100 | |
| Apr 14, 1990 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 124-113 | |
| Apr 16, 1990 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 111-102 | |
| Apr 18, 1990 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 124-113 | |
| Apr 20, 1990 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 121-115 | |
| Apr 22, 1990 | @ Washington Bullets | W 127-117 |