The Indiana Pacers are staring down a big playoff series, but there’s a cloud hanging over the squad that’s got fans on edge: Isaiah Jackson won’t be suiting up. The young forward has been out since November after tearing his right Achilles tendon, and as the postseason kicks off, his absence feels like a punch to the gut for this team.
Let’s rewind to how this all went down. Jackson was on the court against the Pelicans when disaster struck in the fourth quarter. It was a non-contact injury—those are always the scariest—and you could tell right away something was seriously wrong. An MRI confirmed the fears: a torn Achilles, the kind of injury that stops you in your tracks and ends your season. Jackson had surgery not long after, and while he’s been spotted hanging around the team lately, getting back on the court is still a distant dream. For a guy who was really starting to find his groove as a backup big, the timing couldn’t have been worse.
Now, with the playoffs here, Jackson not being out there is a massive deal for the Pacers. This dude was a spark plug off the bench—think high energy, relentless rebounding, and a defensive bite that gave opponents headaches. If you watched last year’s playoff run, you know what I’m talking about. Jackson was huge in those series against the Knicks and Celtics, flying around the court, messing up plays with his athleticism, and grabbing boards like his life depended on it. Without him, the Pacers’ frontcourt depth takes a serious hit, especially after the injury bug has already taken a bite out of this roster all season long.
Here’s why this stings so much heading into the series: Jackson brought the kind of intangibles that can swing a playoff game. We’re talking about those hustle plays that don’t always show up in the box score—an offensive rebound that keeps a possession alive, a block that sparks a fast break the other way. Those are the moments that can turn a tight game in your favor, and the Pacers don’t have that wildcard right now. Opposing teams have to be grinning, knowing Indiana’s bench is a little thinner without Jackson’s ability to crash the glass or swat shots at the rim. The starters are going to have to carry even more of the weight, and in the playoffs, where every minute and every foul matters, that’s a risky spot to be in. One guy gets in foul trouble or needs a breather, and suddenly the Pacers could be in deep trouble against a team ready to pounce on any crack in the armor.
It’s hard not to think about what could’ve been if Jackson were out there. He was on a real upward swing this year, showing he was ready to take on a bigger role in the rotation. You could see him growing into a fan favorite—a guy who’d leave it all on the court every night. But for now, the Pacers have to dig into their grit and find a way to make it work without him. This playoff road just got a whole lot bumpier, and it’s going to take everything they’ve got to push through without Isaiah Jackson in the lineup.
