The 2020–21 Indiana Pacers season was Indiana's 54th season as a franchise and 45th season in the NBA. The Pacers replaced Nate McMillan, with former Toronto Raptors assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren. During the season, the team acquired Caris LeVert in exchange for Victor Oladipo.
The Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015 following a loss to the Washington Wizards in the play-in tournament, ending a six-year playoff streak. Due to this, with multiple other factors, Bjorkgren was fired.
NBA draft
Entering the 2020 NBA draft, the Pacers only held one second-round pick. Their own first-round selection was traded as an incentive to acquire Malcolm Brogdon from the Milwaukee Bucks via sign and trade.
Roster
Standings
Division
Conference
Notes
z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
y – Clinched division title
x – Clinched playoff spot
* – Division leader
Game log
Preseason
Regular season
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | December 23 | New York | | Domantas Sabonis (32) | Domantas Sabonis (13) | Malcolm Brogdon (8) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse0 | 1–0 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | December 26 | @ Chicago | | T. J. Warren (23) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | United Center0 | 2–0 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | December 27 | Boston | | Malcolm Brogdon (25) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | T. J. McConnell (7) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse0 | 3–0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | December 29 | Boston | | Victor Oladipo (24) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | Domantas Sabonis (8) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse0 | 3–1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 5 | December 31 | Cleveland | | Domantas Sabonis (25) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | Victor Oladipo (8) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse0 | 4–1
|-style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | January 2 | New York | | Malcolm Brogdon (33) | Domantas Sabonis (13) | Malcolm Brogdon (7) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse0 | 4–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 7 | January 4 | @ New Orleans | | Victor Oladipo (25) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | Malcolm Brogdon (11) | Smoothie King Center0 | 5–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | January 6 | Houston | | Malcolm Brogdon (35) | Domantas Sabonis (12) | Malcolm Brogdon (7) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse0 | 6–2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 9 | January 9 | Phoenix | | Domantas Sabonis (25) | Domantas Sabonis (22) | Malcolm Brogdon (9) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse0 | 6–3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 10 | January 11 | @ Sacramento | | Domantas Sabonis (28) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | Malcolm Brogdon (9) | Golden 1 Center0 | 6–4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 11 | January 12 | @ Golden State | | Myles Turner (22) | Domantas Sabonis (14) | Aaron Holiday (12) | Chase Center0 | 7–4 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 12 | January 14 | @ Portland | | Malcolm Brogdon (25) | Domantas Sabonis (15) | T. J. McConnell (8) | Moda Center0 | 8–4 |-style="background:#ccc;" | – | January 16 | @ Phoenix | colspan="6" | Postponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: March 13) |-style="background:#fcc;" | 13 | January 17 | @ L. A. Clippers | | Doug McDermott (23) | Domantas Sabonis (14) | Malcolm Brogdon (8) | Staples Center0 | 8–5 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 14 | January 20 | Dallas | | Malcolm Brogdon (26) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | T. J. McConnell (6) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse0 | 8–6 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 15 | January 22 | Orlando | | Malcolm Brogdon (23) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | Domantas Sabonis (9) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse0 | 9–6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 16 | January 24 | Toronto | | Myles Turner (25) | Domantas Sabonis (19) | T. J. McConnell (7) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse0 | 9–7 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 17 | January 25 | Toronto | | Malcolm Brogdon (36) | Myles Turner (9) | Brogdon, McConnell (9) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse0 | 10–7 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 18 | January 27 | @ Charlotte | | Doug McDermott (28) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | Domantas Sabonis (10) | Spectrum Center0 | 11–7 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 19 | January 29 | @ Charlotte | | Domantas Sabonis (22) | Domantas Sabonis (11) | Malcolm Brogdon (8) | Spectrum Center0 | 11–8 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 20 | January 31 | Philadelphia | | Malcolm Brogdon (25) | Domantas Sabonis (8) | T. J. McConnell (8) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse0 | 11–9