A Pacers-Knicks Playoff History Primer

After advancing to the Jap Convention Semifinals on Thursday evening, the Pacers will face a well-known foe of their subsequent playoff sequence: the New York Knicks.

PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Observe Indiana’s Postseason Run at Pacers.com/Playoffs >>

The Pacers and Knicks have an intensive historical past within the playoffs, having confronted off seven occasions within the postseason, together with six occasions in an eight-year span. It is a rivalry so well-known, they’ve made motion pictures about it.

As the 2 groups put together for the newest chapter of their rivalry, let’s take a stroll again by way of reminiscence lane to debate the historical past between the 2 franchises. From Reggie Miller and Spike Lee to Roy Hibbert and Carmelo Anthony, this is how the Pacers-Knicks rivalry has unfolded over time.

The Knicks had been heavy favorites within the first playoff assembly between the 2 groups. New York was the highest seed within the East after profitable 60 video games within the common season, whereas the Pacers snuck into the playoffs because the eighth seed with a .500 file.

The Knicks took the primary two video games of the sequence at Madison Sq. Backyard, however the sequence is greatest remembered for what occurred in Recreation 3 at Market Sq. Area. As Miller recalled within the 30-for-30 documentary, “Profitable Time,” when he went to shake arms with Knicks guard John Starks previous to the beginning of the sport, Starks ignored him. “From that time, on I made it a mission — I will embarrass this child,” Miller mentioned.

Miller was feeling himself on this specific evening, flattening pictures and exchanging trash discuss with Starks after each make. At one level within the third quarter, the 2 got here face-to-face close to midcourt. Starks misplaced his cool, headbutting Miller, who threw himself backwards in theatrical trend. Starks was ejected and the Pacers rolled to a 116-93 win, with Miller scoring a game-high 36 factors.

The Knicks would win Recreation 4 two days later to shut out the best-of-five sequence, however the rivalry was formally born.

Maybe essentially the most iconic picture of Reggie Miller to Pacers followers is him making the choke signal at acclaimed director and Knicks superfan Spike Lee. That picture is from Recreation 5 of the 1994 Jap Convention Finals, when Miller led the Pacers to an inconceivable comeback at Madison Sq. Backyard.

The fifth-seeded Pacers had made their deepest postseason run, knocking off the Orlando Magic within the first spherical earlier than upsetting high seed Atlanta within the Jap Convention Semifinals to arrange one other assembly with the Knicks with a visit to the NBA Finals on the road.

Each groups gained the primary two video games on their homecourt, so the sequence shifted again to New York for Recreation 5 knotted at 2-2. The Knicks appeared on their method to one other victory, up 70-58 getting into the fourth quarter.

However Miller caught fireplace within the ultimate body, erupting for 25 factors within the fourth quarter. As he hit shot after shot, he made positive to let Lee know, repeatedly shouting towards’s Lee’s courtside seat on his method again up the ground. The Pacers outscored New York 35-16 within the fourth quarter to steal the sport, with Miller ending with 39 factors.

In his postgame interview with NBC’s Ahmad Rashad, Miller smiled mentioned “Spike Who?” when requested about his interactions with Lee.

As memorable as that second was for Pacers followers, the Knicks obtained the final giggle on this specific sequence, profitable Recreation 6 in Indianapolis after which closing out the sequence in Recreation 7 at Madison Sq. Backyard.

If Miller doing the choke signal is essentially the most well-known picture from his profession, his most memorable second got here in the identical area one yr later.

The Pacers and Knicks met for the third straight yr in 1995, this time within the Jap Convention Semifinals. In Recreation 1, the Knicks once more appeared to have wrapped up a victory, up by six with 18.7 seconds remaining.

RELATED: “I Nearly Fell Over”: An Oral Historical past of Reggie Miller’s 8 Factors in 9 Seconds >>

However as soon as once more, Miller rose the event. After hitting a fast three out of a timeout. Knicks ahead Anthony Mason tried to inbound Greg Anthony, however Anthony slipped and Mason’s cross went instantly into the arms of Miller. Miller then shortly stepped exterior the 3-point line and drilled one other three to tie the sport.

Within the ensuing confusion, Pacers ahead Sam Mitchell fouled Starks, not realizing the sport was now tied. As soon as once more, Miller taunted Starks and the Knicks guard missed each free throws. Miller rebounded the second and was fouled by Starks.

On the opposite finish, Miller did not miss his free throws, making each to seal essentially the most inconceivable victory in franchise historical past.

Miller’s postgame interview with NBC’s Dan Hicks is iconic in its personal proper, with Miller’s trademark bravado on full show.

“Mason choked, he threw it to me, I hit a 3…John Starks choked, we got here up massive,” a euphoric Miller recalled, then closed the interview by exclaiming, “We really feel we are able to sweep this staff. That is for you, Indiana!”

It would not be a sweep, however the Pacers would finally prevail. Indiana obtained up 3-1, however the Knicks took the following two video games to pressure a winner-take-all Recreation 7 at Madison Sq. Backyard.

The ultimate recreation got here all the way down to the wire, with Miller dueling with Knicks star middle Patrick Ewing, each gamers ending with 29 factors. However Ewing missed a layup within the ultimate seconds, permitting the Pacers to flee with a 97-95 victory.

Pacers radio broadcaster Mark Boyle celebrated the second by shouting, “Ding dong! The witch is useless!” because the Blue & Gold lastly bested the Knicks.

The Pacers and Knicks did not meet within the playoffs for the following two seasons, however discovered themselves matched up as soon as once more within the 1998 Jap Convention Semifinals.

The Pacers took the primary two video games at Market Sq. Area earlier than the Knicks gained Recreation 3 at Madison Sq. Backyard. Recreation 4 was best recreation within the sequence and featured much more heroics from Miller, who hit a 3-pointer with 5.1 seconds left to pressure time beyond regulation.

Indiana pulled away within the additional session for a 118-107 victory, behind 38 factors from Miller. Rik Smits added 23 and Mark Jackson had a double-double with 16 factors and 15 assists.

The Pacers closed out the sequence in Recreation 5 at house, with Jackson recording the primary triple-double within the NBA playoffs in franchise historical past with 22 factors, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists.

The Pacers wound up shedding in seven video games to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls within the 1998 Jap Convention Finals, nevertheless it felt prefer it was lastly Indiana’s yr in 1999 following Jordan’s retirement.

The second-seeded Pacers swept sequence with Milwaukee and Philadelphia to advance to the Jap Convention Finals, the place they confronted the upstart Knicks, who gained two sequence because the eighth seed.

The 2 groups cut up a pair of video games in Indiana with Ewing notably injuring his Achilles in Recreation 2, an ailment that might hold him sidelined for the rest of the postseason.

Recreation 3 was the turning level within the sequence. Indiana led 91-88 within the closing seconds earlier than Knicks ahead Larry Johnson was fouled by Antonio Davis and hit a 3 (a name nonetheless thought-about questionable by many Pacers followers). Johnson accomplished the four-point play to raise New York to victory.

The Pacers rebounded to win Recreation 4, however the Knicks took the ultimate two video games of the sequence, with Allan Houston’s 32-point efficiency in a close-out Recreation 6 eliminating Indiana.

The Pacers and Knicks would meet once more within the Jap Convention Finals in 2000. This time, the Pacers obtained their revenge.

The sequence opened at Indiana’s new area, Conseco Fieldhouse (now Gainbridge Fieldhouse), the place the Pacers protected their house court docket by sweeping the primary two video games. The Knicks did the identical in Video games 3 and 4 at Madison Sq. Backyard and the Pacers took Recreation 5 again in Indianapolis.

In Recreation 6, Miller had one other magical evening in what could be his ultimate playoff recreation at Madison Sq. Backyard. The longer term Corridor of Famer scored 34 factors, going 10-for-19 from the sphere, 5-for-7 from 3-point vary, and 9-for-9 from the free throw line to raise Indiana to its first NBA Finals look in franchise historical past. As the ultimate buzzer sounded, an ecstatic Miller leapt into the arms of teammate Jalen Rose.

Whereas the Pacers-Knicks rivalry is greatest remembered for these six playoff sequence involving Miller, the 2 groups had yet one more memorable postseason battle in 2013.

The third-seeded Pacers and second-seeded Knicks met within the Jap Convention Semifinals that season. The Pacers had been a younger upstart staff, led by All-Stars Paul George and Roy Hibbert, whereas the Knicks had a veteran squad constructed round scoring phenom Carmelo Anthony.

Indiana took Recreation 1 in New York earlier than the Knicks rebounded to win Recreation 2. The Pacers protected their house court docket over the following two video games, taking Recreation 3 behind 24 factors and 12 rebounds from Hibbert and Recreation 4 because of 26 factors from George Hill and double-doubles by George and David West.

Anthony scored 28 factors in Recreation 5 because the Knicks prolonged the sequence, however the Pacers returned to Indianapolis with an opportunity to shut it out on their house court docket. The Knicks would not make it simple.

Anthony dropped 39 factors in Recreation 6 and the Knicks led 92-90 with 5 minutes to go. That is when Anthony spun previous George on the baseline and rose up for a right-hand slam. Hibbert was there to fulfill him on the rim, nevertheless, by some means having the power to disclaim the dunk try.

That proved to be the turning level, because the Pacers outscored New York 16-7 the remainder of the way in which en path to victory. Three gamers surpassed 20 factors for the Blue & Gold within the victory: Lance Stephenson (25 factors and 10 rebounds), George (23 factors), and Hibbert (21 factors, 12 boards, and 5 blocks.