Knicks vs. Pacers playoff history: From Reggie Miller-Spike Lee beef to 2000 Eastern Conference finals

Daniel Chavkin

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Knicks vs. Pacers playoff history: From Reggie Miller-Spike Lee beef to 2000 Eastern Conference finals image

The NBA has some of the biggest rivalries in sports, but one of the most underrated may be Pacers vs. Knicks.

During the 1990s, Indiana and New York met so often in the playoffs it felt like an annual tradition, as Reggie Miller and Patrick Ewing led their squads into battle. While the rivalry cooled off since Miller and Ewing retired, it has picked up in spurts when the two organizations met in the playoffs with a new cast of characters.

Over the years, the NBA has seen some fierce rivalries, but Knicks and Pacers has a unique flare that involves two teams who have failed to win an NBA title during this span. The battles even included moments of Miller engaging with Knicks superfan Spike Lee, the famous director who sits court-side every game.

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Here's a look back at what made New York vs. Indiana such a compelling rivalry.

Knicks vs. Pacers playoff history

Here's a snapshot of the Knicks-Pacers playoff rivalry over the years, before breaking down each matchup in detail.

YearRoundWinnerLoserResult
1993Eastern Conference First RoundKnicksPacers3-1
1994Eastern Conference FinalsKnicksPacers4-3
1995Eastern Conference SemifinalsPacersKnicks4-3
1998Eastern Conference SemifinalsPacersKnicks4-1
1999Eastern Conference FinalsKnicksPacers4-2
2000Eastern Conference FinalsPacersKnicks4-1
2013Eastern Conference SemifinalsPacersKnicks4-2
2024Eastern Conference SemifinalsPacersKnicks4-3

1993 Eastern Conference first round

The first time these two teams faced off in the playoffs was in 1993, when they met in the first round of the playoffs. The Knicks entered the playoffs as the top seed in the East, while the Pacers were the final team in the playoffs as an 8-seed.

While New York won the series 3-1, it did produce the first memorable moment in this rivalry. In Game 3, which was the Pacers' lone win in the series, John Starks was ejected for head-butting Reggie Miller in the game.

1994 Eastern Conference Finals

The following season, New York and Indiana met in the Eastern Conference Finals after the 2-seed Knicks beat the Bulls, and the 5-seed Pacers upset the 1-seed Hawks. This series went seven games, as the Knicks squeaked out a four-point win in Game 7.

The highlight of this series, however, was Miller's interactions with celebrity Knicks fan Spike Lee. New York initially took a 2-0 series lead, but Indiana won three straight, including in New York during Game 5 behind 39 points from Miller. In that game, Miller kept staring at Lee and even made a choking sign towards the famous director.

New York won the final two games to avoid catastrophe, but not before Indiana pushed them to seven games.

1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals

For the third-straight year, the Knicks and Pacers met in the the playoffs as they played in the 1995 conference semifinals. This time, the Pacers came out on top in seven games, and two different memorable moments unfolded during the series.

First, with Indiana down six with 18 seconds left in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden, Miller inexplicably scored eight points in nine seconds to steal the game away from the Knicks.

The Pacers took a 3-1 series lead with two wins in Indiana in Games 3 and 4, but the Knicks won Games 5 and 6 to set up a Game 7. In the deciding game, the Pacers had a two-point lead when Patrick Ewing missed a finger roll as time expired, giving Indiana the series victory.

That game also marked Pat Riley's final game as the Knicks head coach, which was the end of another era.

1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals

After avoiding each other for three years, the Knicks and Pacers renewed their rivalry in 1998, this time with the Pacers gaining home court advantage. Indiana was the 3-seed in the East, while New York was a 7-seed that upset the Heat in the first round.

However, the series wasn't a long on like the previous two. Patrick Ewing was dealing with an injured wrist in the series as Indiana won four of five games, including in overtime during Game 4, to advance to the conference finals. 

1999 Eastern Conference Finals

The 1999 season was the last time the Knicks made the NBA Finals, and they had to go through the Pacers in the conference finals to get there. New York was on a run as an 8-seed, upsetting the Heat and Hawks in the first two rounds, then beat the 2-seed Pacers in the conference finals.

In Game 3, with the series tied at one, Knicks forward Larry Johnson completed a four-point play down three, helping New York take a 2-1 series lead.

The Knicks would go on to win Games 5 and 6 to advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in six years.

2000 Eastern Conference Finals

For the third time in seven years, the Pacers and Knicks met in the conference finals during the 2000 playoffs. This would be the final time that Reggie Miller played New York in the playoffs, ending one of the all-time great rivalries.

This time, Indiana defeated the Knicks in the conference finals for the first time, winning the series in six games. It also marked the first time that the Pacers made the NBA Finals since the merger.

2013 Eastern Conference Semifinals

Thirteen years later, the Knicks and Pacers renewed their rivalry with a new set of players, as two of the best teams in the east. New York won a playoff series for the first time since 2000 behind Carmelo Anthony, while Pacers stars Paul George and Roy Hibbert brought the team back to prominence.

In this series, the Pacers stole Game 1 in New York, then took both games in Indiana to take a 3-1 lead. After the Knicks won Game 5, and needing to win Game 6 on the road to extend the series, the Knicks had a two-point lead when a Hibbert block on Anthony played a pivotal role in the series.

Indiana outscored New York 16-7 after that block to take both the game and the series.

2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals

Most recently, the Pacers and Knicks met in the 2024 conference semifinals, as Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson faced off for a chance to make the conference finals. New York had a 2-0 series lead and a chance to go up 3-0 in Indiana when Andrew Nembhard hit a clutch three-pointer to get back in the series.

The Pacers closed out the series winning four of the last five games as New York's injuries piled up, leading to a blowout in Game 7.

Daniel Chavkin

Daniel Chavkin is a Digital Content Producer for The Sporting News. A 2018 graduate from the University of Maryland, he has previously written for Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports and NFLTradeRumors.com.