The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks will meet in the 2024 Eastern Conference semifinals. The Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers in X games in the first round, while the Pacers knocked off the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.
The Pacers and Knicks played several spirited playoff series in the 1990s, splitting six series between 1993-2000. Pacers all-time leading scorer Reggie Miller was at the center of many of the best moments from those contentious battles.
Here are some of the great Pacers moments from that history:
‘Hicks vs. Knicks’
Portions of the New York media are believed to have drummed up the big city/small town element to the series, although none of the Pacers’ players at the time were homegrown: Reggie Miller was born in the Los Angeles area; Vern Fleming in New York; Rick Smith in the Netherlands. However, the teams’ fan bases took it to heart, as Spike Lee was courtside in New York and Indianapolis, and some Pacers fans reveling in the atmosphere by dressing in overalls. Combine that with the low-scoring, rough-and-tumble style of play in the 1990s, and their six playoff matchups in an eight-year span produced great intensity.
Great Pacers moment vs. Knicks in the playoffs
May 4, 1993: John Starks head-butts Reggie Miller
After losing the first two games of the best-of-5 series, the Pacers controlled Game 3 starting in the third quarter. Miller is on his way to 36 points and telling his New York counterpart, John Starks, all about it. On one trip down the court, Stark loses his cool and headbutts Miller. Stark is ejected and the Pacers win 116-93.
Miller feigned innocence: “What, me trash-talk? For a 41-41 team?” he said. “I was surprised John did that right in front of the ref.”
More: Reggie Miller, the Oscar-worthy NBA trash talker, has no regrets: ‘I said it? I mean it’
June 1, 1994: Reggie Miller scores 25 points in the fourth quarter
The Pacers trail 70-58 entering the fourth quarter, and Knicks super fan Spike Lee is giving Miller a choke sign. Miller scores 25 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 39 and lead Indiana to a 93-86 victory, then he repays Lee with a choke sign for everyone to see.
“He’s their biggest fan, and you can’t fault him for that, but sometimes he opens his mouth a little too much and gets the other guys going,” Miller said postgame. “I think tonight was one of those nights.”
May 7, 1995: Reggie Miller scores 8 points in 8.9 seconds in closing seconds
The Pacers trail 105-99 with 18.7 seconds remaining as they inbound the ball at halfcourt. Then…
Mark Jackson finds Miller on the left wing, who drains a 3-pointer with 16.4 seconds left.
∎ Miller steals an errant inbounds pass and hits another 3 to tie the score with 13.2 seconds left.
∎ The Pacers foul the Knicks’ John Starks on the inbound pass, but he misses both free throws.
New York’s Patrick Ewing winds up with the offensive rebound but misses, and Miller is fouled by Starks on the ensuing rebound with 7.5 seconds to go.
∎ Miller makes both free throws.
∎ The Knicks don’t get a shot on their final possession, and the Pacers win 107-105.
“Realistically, I thought we had no chance (of winning),” Pacers coach Larry Brown said postgame. “But I ain’t gonna tell them! Until it’s over, you’ve got to keep trying.
“I never imagined it would turn out this way.”
More: Inside Madison Square Garden when Reggie Miller’s 8 points in 8.9 seconds echoed around the world
May 21, 1995: ‘Ding, dong, the witch is dead!’
This may be the most memorable call in Mark Boyle’s decades of calling Pacers games on the radio.
After losing hard-fought playoff battles to the Knicks the previous two years, the Pacers beat New York to reach their first conference finals.
Indiana won Game 7 97-95 as Patrick Ewing missed an open finger roll at the basket in the closing seconds, prompting Boyle’s call.
May 10, 1998: Reggie Miller leads ‘Escape from New York’
Miller hits a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left in regulation to tie the score, and the Pacers go on to win Game 4 in overtime behind his 38 points. Indiana wins the series 4-1.
June 2, 2000: Pacers make their first NBA Finals
Reggie Miller scores 34 points as the Pacers break away from a tie score after three quarters to win 93-80 and win the series 4-2. They lost the NBA Finals 4-2 to the Los Angeles Lakers.
May 18, 2013: Roy Hibbert meets Carmelo Anthony at the top
As the Pacers close out the Knicks in Game 6 of the second round, Indiana center Roy Hibbert provides a lasting image by denying Carmelo Anthony’s dunk attempt. Indiana wins 106-99.
Pacers vs. Knicks playoff history
1993 Eastern Conference first round: Knicks win 3-1 (best-of-5)
1994 Eastern Conference Finals: Knicks win 4-3
1995 Eastern Conference Semifinal: Pacers win 4-3
1998 Eastern Conference Semifinal: Pacers win 4-1
1999 Eastern Conference Finals: Knicks win 4-2
2000 Eastern Conference Finals: Pacers win 4-2
2013 Eastern Conference Semifinal: Pacers win 4-2
