The Indiana Pacers had one of the more successful NBA bubble seeding game campaigns, finishing 6-2 and moving up to the four seed ahead of their first round matchup with the Miami Heat. With Domantas Sabonis missing all eight regular season games, the Pacers were able to overcome his absence thanks in large part to the elevated play of T.J. Warren.
Warren averaged 31.0 points and 6.3 rebounds in six games, finishing third in the league in scoring behind Damian Lillard and James Harden. Warren burst into the bubble with 53 points in a must-win game against Philadelphia, carrying that play over into three more 30-point outings, hitting clutch shots late against Philly and the Lakers, finishing with 39 in the latter.