Indiana
With playoffs clinched, Pacers now hunting top four seed
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Pacers clinched a spot in the playoffs for the second straight season on Tuesday night.
Now, their attention turns to clinching a top four seed in the Eastern Conference.
“It’s cool that we clinched a playoff berth, but we really want a top four seed so we’re trying to take care of business there,” Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said. “That’s what’s really important. I don’t think there’s a struggle to keep a focus by any means.”
With a top four seed, the Pacers would have home court advantage in its first round matchup.
“Having that top four seed we think is really beneficial for us just because we feel very comfortable playing at home,” Haliburton said. “If you look at last year’s playoffs, the success we had at home, if you look at the second half of the season, how much success we’ve had at home.”
The Pacers have enjoyed much more success at Gainbridge Fieldhouse than on the road this season. They’re 26-10 at home and just 18-20 on the road. Plus, the Pacers are 14-3 in their last 17 home games.
In the playoffs last season, the Pacers started 6-0 at home before losing their last two home games to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Haliburton gave another reason why a top four seed is important to them.
“The NBA’s just better when you can sleep in your own bed and keep your same routine,” Haliburton said.
The Pacers hold a three game advantage over the Bucks and Pistons for the No. 4 seed on Friday. They have the tiebreaker against the Pistons, but not against the Bucks.
Eastern Conference Standings
- Cleveland Cavaliers (61-15)
- Boston Celtics (56-20), 5 games back
- New York Knicks (48-28), 13 games back
- Indiana Pacers (45-31), 16 games back
- Milwaukee Bucks (42-34), 19 games back
- Detroit Pistons (42-34), 19 games back
The Pacers have six games remaining, four of which are at home. They get back to action on Friday against the Utah Jazz, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
On this episode of “Week in Review,” we cover the Indiana gambling case, the Bears’ 2026 schedule release and the Bulls landing the No. 4 draft pick. We also look at Jim’s Original moving after 85 years and Chicago Fire FC’s new McDonald’s Park stadium name. Plus, Cole Kmet joins Cop on a Rooftop, a White Sox phenom goes one on one and more top stories from around Chicago.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — More than 50 Indiana law enforcement agencies are taking to the roof to help local athletes.
Police and safety officers will be stationed around various Dunkin’ Donuts, taking up donations for the Special Olympics. People who monetarily donate will receive a coupon for a free donut. Those who donate $10 or more will receive a coupon for a free medium hot coffee.
“Supporting the Special Olympics isn’t just an event for us — it’s a commitment to people who inspire us every day,” Sergeant Wes Rowlader said. “These athletes show what determination, courage, and community truly look like. Every dollar we raise helps transform that spirit into training, competition, and lifelong confidence.”
More than 20,000 Hoosier athletes train and compete for free within the Special Olympics. To date, Cop on a Rooftop has raised more than $125,000 for Special Olympics Indiana.
The Indiana State Police will be at the Dunkin’ Donuts at 9821 Lima Road in Fort Wayne from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday.
A man’s family is demanding answers after he was shot by a security guard inside a hospital emergency room waiting area on Tuesday night in Gary, Indiana.
Methodist Northlake Hospital officials said, around midnight Tuesday night, its security staff responded quickly after a patient took out a gun. The hospital said he’d threatened to shoot himself or others.
The hospital commended the security guard who shot the man for “neutralizing the threat and helping ensure the safety of our patients and employees.”
Family members identified the man who was shot as Otis Brown. They said he is a kind father to a 12-year-old boy.
“Just a great person, a happy-go-lucky, always out there trying to do the right thing,” said his fiancée, Stacey Taylor.
Taylor said she was on a business trip when she got a call that Brown had been shot multiple times.
“Scared, uncertainty; you know, what story is right? You know, what happened?” she said.
After he was shot, Brown was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center for treatment.
Taylor said she had no idea why Brown went to Methodist Northlake Hospital in the first place. His family said he was trying to leave the hospital when the shooting happened, claiming that the hospital gave him his gun back after he was cleared to leave.
“We just want to get answers, just want to know what happened, particularly when people are defaming his name,” Taylor said.
She and Brown’s family hope the hospital has surveillance video footage that can help provide answers.
Gary police have not provided any details on the shooting. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department said it is investigating the shooting at the request of Gary police, but did not provide any further information.
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