The 2003-04 Indiana Pacers had a standout NBA season, finishing with a league-best 61-21 record. Under head coach Rick Carlisle, the team excelled in both offense and defense, showcasing a well-rounded roster. Jermaine O’Neal led the team, earning All-NBA Second Team honors, while Ron Artest provided a defensive spark, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
The Pacers dominated the Central Division and secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They defeated the Boston Celtics in the first round and the Miami Heat in the second round, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. However, their championship aspirations were halted by the Detroit Pistons, who won the series 4-2. Despite falling short of the NBA Finals, the Pacers’ successful regular season remains a high point in the franchise’s history.
- Regular Season Record: 61-21
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 4-0, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-2, Eastern Conference Finals: 2-4
Indiana Pacers Roster and Stats for 2003-04 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Jermaine O'Neal | 78 | 20.1 | 10.0 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 11.1 | 16 | 19.2 | 9.1 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 0.0 |
| Metta World Peace | 73 | 18.3 | 5.3 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 31.0 | 15 | 18.4 | 6.5 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 28.8 |
| Al Harrington | 79 | 13.3 | 6.4 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 27.3 | 16 | 9.5 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 40.0 |
| Reggie Miller | 80 | 10.0 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 40.1 | 16 | 10.1 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 37.5 |
| Jamaal Tinsley | 52 | 8.3 | 2.6 | 5.8 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 37.2 | 16 | 8.1 | 2.9 | 5.0 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 29.6 |
| Jonathan Bender | 21 | 7.0 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 40.9 | 16 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 36.0 |
| Anthony Johnson | 73 | 6.2 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 33.6 | 16 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 30.0 |
| Jeff Foster | 82 | 6.1 | 7.4 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 16 | 3.6 | 6.6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Anderson | 44 | 6.0 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 25.0 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Austin Croshere | 77 | 5.0 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 38.9 | 13 | 4.8 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 33.3 |
| Fred Jones | 81 | 4.9 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 30.3 | 14 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 50.0 |
| Jamison Brewer | 13 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 35.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Scot Pollard | 61 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Primož Brezec | 18 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| James Jones | 6 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Indiana Pacers in the 2004 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Boston Celtics
In the first round of the 2004 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers showcased their dominance by sweeping the Boston Celtics in a decisive 4-0 series victory. With a formidable defense and standout performances from Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest, the Pacers effectively stifled the Celtics' offensive efforts, underscoring their status as the Eastern Conference's top seed. This sweep set the tone for Indiana's strong playoff run that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2004 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 104-88 | |
| Apr 20, 2004 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 103-90 | |
| Apr 23, 2004 | @ Boston Celtics | W 108-85 | |
| Apr 25, 2004 | @ Boston Celtics | W 90-75 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Miami Heat
In the 2004 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers faced the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and emerged victorious in a six-game series. The Pacers showcased their depth and defensive prowess, with Jermaine O'Neal, Ron Artest, and Reggie Miller leading the charge. Their ability to contain Miami's scoring threats, combined with clutch performances, propelled them to the Eastern Conference Finals.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 06, 2004 | vs. Miami Heat | W 94-81 | |
| May 08, 2004 | vs. Miami Heat | W 91-80 | |
| May 10, 2004 | @ Miami Heat | L 94-87 | |
| May 12, 2004 | @ Miami Heat | L 100-88 | |
| May 15, 2004 | vs. Miami Heat | W 94-83 | |
| May 18, 2004 | @ Miami Heat | W 73-70 |
2004 Conference Championship vs. Detroit Pistons
In the 2004 NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals, showcasing a formidable roster led by Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest. Despite finishing the regular season with an impressive 61-21 record, the Pacers fell to the Detroit Pistons in a hard-fought six-game series. The Pistons' stifling defense and balanced attack proved too much for the Pacers, who struggled to find consistent scoring options beyond their stars.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2004 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 78-74 | |
| May 24, 2004 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 72-67 | |
| May 26, 2004 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 85-78 | |
| May 28, 2004 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 83-68 | |
| May 30, 2004 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 83-65 | |
| Jun 01, 2004 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 69-65 |
Indiana Pacers 2003-04 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2003-04 season for the Indiana Pacers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2003 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 89-87 | |
| Oct 31, 2003 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 93-79 | |
| Nov 01, 2003 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 103-99 | |
| Nov 04, 2003 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 71-60 | |
| Nov 06, 2003 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 87-81 | |
| Nov 07, 2003 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 91-90 | |
| Nov 09, 2003 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 85-74 | |
| Nov 11, 2003 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 78-76 | |
| Nov 14, 2003 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 101-78 | |
| Nov 15, 2003 | @ New York Knicks | W 95-94 | |
| Nov 19, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 91-78 | |
| Nov 21, 2003 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 76-75 | |
| Nov 24, 2003 | @ Orlando Magic | W 89-78 | |
| Nov 25, 2003 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 98-75 | |
| Nov 27, 2003 | vs. New York Knicks | W 93-70 | |
| Nov 28, 2003 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 90-77 | |
| Nov 30, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 99-77 | |
| Dec 01, 2003 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 89-82 | |
| Dec 03, 2003 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 97-95 | |
| Dec 05, 2003 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 101-94 | |
| Dec 07, 2003 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 91-88 | |
| Dec 09, 2003 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 93-79 | |
| Dec 12, 2003 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 103-92 | |
| Dec 13, 2003 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 86-75 | |
| Dec 15, 2003 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 95-85 | |
| Dec 17, 2003 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 94-90 | |
| Dec 19, 2003 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 80-75 | |
| Dec 20, 2003 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 102-80 | |
| Dec 23, 2003 | @ Houston Rockets | W 79-71 | |
| Dec 26, 2003 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 101-96 | |
| Dec 27, 2003 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 82-75 | |
| Dec 29, 2003 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 94-86 | |
| Dec 30, 2003 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 92-89 | |
| Jan 02, 2004 | @ Boston Celtics | W 103-90 | |
| Jan 03, 2004 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 91-84 | |
| Jan 05, 2004 | @ Miami Heat | W 87-65 | |
| Jan 06, 2004 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 114-107 | |
| Jan 09, 2004 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 92-80 | |
| Jan 10, 2004 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 89-88 | |
| Jan 14, 2004 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 85-78 | |
| Jan 16, 2004 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 89-79 | |
| Jan 17, 2004 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 90-84 | |
| Jan 19, 2004 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 100-97 | |
| Jan 20, 2004 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 81-69 | |
| Jan 23, 2004 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 78-74 | |
| Jan 24, 2004 | @ Washington Wizards | L 107-96 | |
| Jan 28, 2004 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 101-79 | |
| Jan 31, 2004 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 99-98 | |
| Feb 02, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 85-72 | |
| Feb 03, 2004 | @ New York Knicks | L 97-90 | |
| Feb 06, 2004 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 83-77 | |
| Feb 08, 2004 | vs. Miami Heat | W 97-91 | |
| Feb 10, 2004 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 103-84 | |
| Feb 17, 2004 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 89-75 | |
| Feb 20, 2004 | @ Washington Wizards | W 96-87 | |
| Feb 22, 2004 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 94-80 | |
| Feb 24, 2004 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 107-96 | |
| Feb 27, 2004 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 89-77 | |
| Feb 28, 2004 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 81-74 | |
| Mar 02, 2004 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 96-88 | |
| Mar 03, 2004 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 101-94 | |
| Mar 05, 2004 | @ Utah Jazz | W 96-88 | |
| Mar 07, 2004 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 103-94 | |
| Mar 09, 2004 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 94-84 | |
| Mar 12, 2004 | @ Boston Celtics | W 99-81 | |
| Mar 14, 2004 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 107-104 | |
| Mar 17, 2004 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 80-71 | |
| Mar 19, 2004 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 94-92 | |
| Mar 20, 2004 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 99-95 | |
| Mar 22, 2004 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 101-77 | |
| Mar 24, 2004 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 103-99 | |
| Mar 26, 2004 | @ Orlando Magic | W 107-92 | |
| Mar 28, 2004 | vs. Miami Heat | W 87-80 | |
| Mar 30, 2004 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 95-86 | |
| Mar 31, 2004 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-78 | |
| Apr 02, 2004 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 84-64 | |
| Apr 04, 2004 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 79-61 | |
| Apr 06, 2004 | vs. New York Knicks | W 107-86 | |
| Apr 07, 2004 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 94-90 | |
| Apr 09, 2004 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 90-80 | |
| Apr 12, 2004 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 107-93 | |
| Apr 14, 2004 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 101-96 |