The 2002-03 Indiana Pacers had a promising yet turbulent season, finishing with a 48-34 record. This performance placed them third in the Central Division and earned them a berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The team was led by head coach Isiah Thomas and featured standout players such as Jermaine O’Neal, who was an All-Star and had a significant impact on both ends of the floor. The roster also included key contributors like Ron Artest and Reggie Miller.
Despite a strong regular season, the Pacers’ playoff run was cut short in the first round. They faced the Boston Celtics and were defeated in six games, marking a disappointing end to a campaign that had shown potential. The season highlighted both the team’s capabilities and areas for improvement, setting the stage for future adjustments. This season was pivotal in shaping the Pacers’ strategy moving forward.
- Regular Season Record: 48-34
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-4
Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats for 2002-03 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Jermaine O'Neal | 77 | 20.8 | 10.3 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 33.3 | 6 | 22.8 | 17.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 0.0 |
| Metta World Peace | 69 | 15.5 | 5.2 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 33.6 | 6 | 19.0 | 5.8 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 38.7 |
| Brad Miller | 73 | 13.1 | 8.3 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 31.3 | 6 | 8.7 | 5.5 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Reggie Miller | 70 | 12.6 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 35.5 | 6 | 9.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 16.0 |
| Al Harrington | 82 | 12.2 | 6.2 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 28.3 | 6 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Jamaal Tinsley | 73 | 7.8 | 3.6 | 7.5 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 27.7 | 6 | 8.5 | 3.0 | 6.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 61.5 |
| Ron Mercer | 72 | 7.7 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 18.8 | 6 | 6.5 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Jonathan Bender | 46 | 6.6 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 35.8 | 3 | 5.7 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 33.3 |
| Erick Strickland | 71 | 6.5 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 38.7 | 5 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 20.0 |
| Austin Croshere | 49 | 5.1 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 39.1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Tim Hardaway | 10 | 4.9 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 35.5 | 4 | 3.3 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 30.0 |
| Jamison Brewer | 10 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Foster | 77 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 6 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Primož Brezec | 22 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Fred Jones | 19 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 28.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Indiana Pacers in the 2003 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Boston Celtics
In the first round of the 2003 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers faced the Boston Celtics in a closely contested series. Despite being the higher seed, the Pacers were upset by the Celtics, losing the series in six games (4-2). Indiana struggled to contain Boston's Paul Pierce, whose dominant performances were pivotal in sending the Pacers home early.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2003 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 103-100 | |
| Apr 21, 2003 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 89-77 | |
| Apr 24, 2003 | @ Boston Celtics | L 101-83 | |
| Apr 27, 2003 | @ Boston Celtics | L 102-92 | |
| Apr 29, 2003 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 93-88 | |
| May 01, 2003 | @ Boston Celtics | L 110-90 |
Indiana Pacers 2002-03 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2002-03 season for the Indiana Pacers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2002 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 91-82 | |
| Nov 01, 2002 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 102-91 | |
| Nov 02, 2002 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 87-80 | |
| Nov 05, 2002 | @ Miami Heat | W 83-79 | |
| Nov 08, 2002 | vs. New York Knicks | W 107-94 | |
| Nov 09, 2002 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 108-84 | |
| Nov 12, 2002 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 95-75 | |
| Nov 15, 2002 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 103-100 | |
| Nov 16, 2002 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 107-101 | |
| Nov 20, 2002 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 97-95 | |
| Nov 22, 2002 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 106-70 | |
| Nov 23, 2002 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 106-91 | |
| Nov 26, 2002 | @ Washington Wizards | W 88-84 | |
| Nov 28, 2002 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 110-98 | |
| Nov 29, 2002 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 100-84 | |
| Dec 01, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 92-87 | |
| Dec 02, 2002 | @ Utah Jazz | L 102-91 | |
| Dec 04, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 114-111 | |
| Dec 06, 2002 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 102-96 | |
| Dec 07, 2002 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 92-81 | |
| Dec 11, 2002 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 126-119 | |
| Dec 13, 2002 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 94-72 | |
| Dec 15, 2002 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 107-97 | |
| Dec 17, 2002 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 118-97 | |
| Dec 18, 2002 | @ Houston Rockets | L 95-83 | |
| Dec 20, 2002 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 101-86 | |
| Dec 21, 2002 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 110-103 | |
| Dec 23, 2002 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 112-97 | |
| Dec 27, 2002 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 113-89 | |
| Dec 28, 2002 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 91-84 | |
| Dec 31, 2002 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 89-86 | |
| Jan 03, 2003 | @ New York Knicks | L 98-96 | |
| Jan 04, 2003 | @ Washington Wizards | L 107-104 | |
| Jan 06, 2003 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 105-104 | |
| Jan 08, 2003 | vs. New York Knicks | W 89-87 | |
| Jan 10, 2003 | @ Orlando Magic | W 101-97 | |
| Jan 11, 2003 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 116-104 | |
| Jan 15, 2003 | vs. Miami Heat | W 104-81 | |
| Jan 17, 2003 | @ Boston Celtics | L 98-93 | |
| Jan 18, 2003 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 88-86 | |
| Jan 20, 2003 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 88-78 | |
| Jan 22, 2003 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 101-98 | |
| Jan 24, 2003 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 93-80 | |
| Jan 26, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-101 | |
| Jan 27, 2003 | @ Miami Heat | W 102-95 | |
| Jan 29, 2003 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 106-97 | |
| Jan 31, 2003 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 102-90 | |
| Feb 01, 2003 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 109-100 | |
| Feb 04, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 97-94 | |
| Feb 11, 2003 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 107-96 | |
| Feb 12, 2003 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 83-72 | |
| Feb 14, 2003 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 98-97 | |
| Feb 16, 2003 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 99-86 | |
| Feb 18, 2003 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 108-103 | |
| Feb 20, 2003 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 98-91 | |
| Feb 22, 2003 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 105-96 | |
| Feb 25, 2003 | vs. Washington Wizards | L 83-78 | |
| Feb 26, 2003 | @ Boston Celtics | L 71-69 | |
| Feb 28, 2003 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 107-98 | |
| Mar 04, 2003 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 107-100 | |
| Mar 05, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 97-95 | |
| Mar 08, 2003 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 94-80 | |
| Mar 09, 2003 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 107-88 | |
| Mar 11, 2003 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 81-71 | |
| Mar 12, 2003 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 96-93 | |
| Mar 14, 2003 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 101-81 | |
| Mar 17, 2003 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 95-88 | |
| Mar 19, 2003 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 102-72 | |
| Mar 21, 2003 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 101-92 | |
| Mar 22, 2003 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 92-89 | |
| Mar 26, 2003 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 91-85 | |
| Mar 28, 2003 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 140-89 | |
| Mar 30, 2003 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 92-81 | |
| Apr 01, 2003 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 103-98 | |
| Apr 02, 2003 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 103-82 | |
| Apr 04, 2003 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 98-92 | |
| Apr 06, 2003 | vs. Miami Heat | W 90-69 | |
| Apr 08, 2003 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 115-103 | |
| Apr 11, 2003 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 98-86 | |
| Apr 13, 2003 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 107-98 | |
| Apr 15, 2003 | @ New York Knicks | W 109-93 | |
| Apr 16, 2003 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 90-83 |