The Knicks vs. Pacers Rivalry: A History of Epic in the NBA
In the winter of 1992, as the Chicago Bulls were beginning their dynasty, Indiana Pacers general manager Donnie Walsh wondered how to revamp his roster. Inspiration came unexpectedly, or rather, when Reggie Miller suffered a hard hit.
On December 30, the Pacers hosted Pat Riley’s New York Knicks. In an offensive play, Rik Smits controlled the ball at the top of the key, while Miller moved towards the elbow before cutting towards the basket. However, before Miller could reach the zone, Charles Oakley of the Knicks delivered a hard blow. The impact sent Miller to the floor.
The referees didn’t know what to do.
Donnie Walsh
Walsh, impressed by the action, decided he needed players like Oakley to change the team’s dynamic. The arrival of Derrick McKey and Antonio Davis fulfilled that objective, transforming the Pacers into a team more similar to the Knicks, which initiated an intense rivalry.
The playoff history between Indiana and New York is full of dramatic moments. They faced each other in three consecutive series between 1993 and 1995, and in six of eight postseasons between 1993 and 2000. Last year, the rivalry was rekindled in the conference semifinals, with Indiana winning the series at the Garden. Now, in their ninth playoff matchup, we review the previous eight.
- 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Miller had an iconic moment by scoring eight points in nine seconds, leading the Knicks to lose the first home game. The Pacers led the series 3-1, but the Knicks forced a seventh game, where Ewing missed a crucial shot.
- 1994 Eastern Finals: With Michael Jordan retired, both teams were seeking the title. Miller, after a poor start, caught fire in the final quarter, scoring 39 points to lead Indiana’s comeback. However, New York won the sixth game and took the seventh, advancing to the Finals.
- 1999 Eastern Finals: The Knicks, with a new lineup, lost Ewing due to injury. The most remembered game was the third, where Larry Johnson scored a controversial four-point play that gave the Knicks the victory.
- 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals: This series saw key moments and a Pacers dominance in the seventh game, with 67.1% field goal shooting, while the Knicks suffered significant injuries.
- 2013 Eastern Conference Semifinals: The Pacers’ defense, led by Paul George and Roy Hibbert, complicated things for the Knicks. Hibbert made a key block on Carmelo Anthony.
- 2000 Eastern Finals: Miller shined, scoring 34 points at the Garden to eliminate the Knicks in six games. This victory led Indiana to its only NBA Finals appearance.
- 1993 Eastern Conference First Round: The Knicks, with 60 wins, had the opportunity to sweep Indiana, but a fight between Starks and Miller changed the course of the game. The Pacers avoided elimination, although the Knicks won the series.
- 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals: The Pacers, reinforced with Chris Mullin and Jalen Rose, had an advantage over the Knicks without Ewing. Indiana won the series in five games.
After the Pacers won in 2024, Haliburton wore a sweater with Miller’s famous signal, solidifying himself as a villain in Madison Square Garden. Brunson and Haliburton, teammates in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, face each other again in a series that could add to the history of this intense rivalry.
Both teams have staged impressive comebacks this postseason, and both Haliburton and Brunson have shone in crucial moments.
