INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers asked for a "moment of celebration" rather than a moment of silence to honor Nancy Leonard, the franchise matriarch who died in September. The fans responded with a massive ovation.

The Pacers showed a video montage of Leonard, who was at one point the Pacers assistant general manager working alongside her husband Bob "Slick" Leonard. Nancy Leonard helped save the franchise by organizing a telethon to sell season tickets in 1977. At the end of the montage, rather than asking the fans to sit in silence, the public address announcer asked for their applause and the crowd roared for several seconds.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle helped push for the applause and has noted numerous times that she was integral in keeping the franchise alive. He said in his pre-game pr

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