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The Knicks vs. Pacers: A 1990s NBA Playoff Rivalry for the Ages

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Dean Hybl

With the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers about to meet for the NBA’s Eastern Conference title, NBA fans are excited for the latest installment of a legendary rivalry that captivated fans during the 1990s.

In the pantheon of great NBA rivalries, few matchups were as intense, dramatic, and personal as the New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers during the 1990s. From 1993 to 2000, these two Eastern Conference foes clashed in the playoffs six times, creating unforgettable moments, unforgettable villains and heroes, and a storyline that embodied the gritty, physical nature of 1990s basketball.

At the center of the storm was Reggie Miller, the Pacers’ sharpshooting provocateur, and the Madison Square Garden faithful, who loved to hate him. On the other side were the bruising Knicks, led by Patrick Ewing and a cast of enforcers. Every meeting between these teams was a war, often decided by physicality, willpower, and late-game heroics.

The Origins: 1993 Eastern Conference First Round

The rivalry’s spark came in the 1993 Eastern Conference First Round, when the second-seeded Knicks met the seventh-seeded Pacers. At the time, the Knicks were considered legitimate title contenders, while the Pacers were still trying to establish themselves as a postseason threat.

New York, led by head coach Pat Riley, played a bruising, physical style centered on Ewing, Charles Oakley, and John Starks. They swept the Pacers in three games, but the intensity was unmistakable. Though the series was one-sided, it planted the seeds of hatred and set the tone for what would follow.

1994: The Rivalry Erupts

The rivalry exploded into full bloom during the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks were again contenders, while the Pacers, now coached by Larry Brown, had developed into a dangerous team built around Reggie Miller, Dale and Antonio Davis, and veteran point guard Mark Jackson.

The series went the full seven games, but it was Game 5 at Madison Square Garden that defined the rivalry. Reggie Miller scored 25 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter, raining down three-pointers and engaging in a memorable, animated exchange with Knicks superfan Spike Lee. Miller’s theatrical taunts and the iconic “choke” sign aimed at Lee became part of NBA lore.

Though the Knicks would recover to win the series in seven and eventually reach the NBA Finals, Miller had officially become public enemy number one in New York. The Pacers’ near-upset gave them confidence, and the bitterness between the two teams escalated.

1995: The “8 Points in 9 Seconds” Miracle

The 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals may have been the most dramatic chapter of all. The Knicks again had homecourt advantage and championship aspirations. The Pacers, with revenge on their minds, struck in Game 1 with one of the most incredible finishes in NBA playoff history.

With 18.7 seconds remaining and the Knicks leading by six, Reggie Miller scored 8 points in 9 seconds—two three-pointers and two free throws following a stolen inbounds pass—to stun the Garden crowd and steal the game. New York never recovered from the shock. Though the series went to seven games again, Indiana finally broke through, winning Game 7 at Madison Square Garden and ending the Knicks’ season.

The sight of Miller mocking the crowd and Spike Lee once again cemented his status as the ultimate Knicks villain. His clutch heroics gave the Pacers legitimacy as contenders and deepened the emotional scars in New York.

1998: Pacers Finally Dominate

The 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals saw a more mature, balanced Pacers squad take on a Knicks team that was beginning to show signs of wear. Indiana, now coached by Larry Bird and featuring a deep rotation including Rik Smits, Chris Mullin, and Jalen Rose, dispatched the Knicks in five games.

New York was hampered by injuries—most notably to Ewing—but the Pacers’ dominance was clear. They were no longer the little brother in the rivalry. For the first time, the power dynamic had shifted decisively in Indiana’s favor.

1999: Underdogs and Redemption

In a stunning turn of events, the Knicks and Pacers met again in the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals during the lockout-shortened season. The eighth-seeded Knicks had clawed their way past Miami and Atlanta to set up a rematch with the top-seeded Pacers.

Ewing was hobbled, and few gave New York a real chance. But a new Knicks hero emerged in the form of Latrell Sprewell, along with Allan Houston, Marcus Camby, and Larry Johnson. In Game 3, Johnson hit one of the most iconic shots in franchise history: a four-point play in the final seconds to steal the win at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks won the series in six games, becoming the first eighth seed to reach the NBA Finals. It was a stinging defeat for Indiana, and it kept the rivalry burning hot despite the change in personnel on both sides.

2000: The Final Battle

The final major confrontation between the two teams came in the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks were aging and worn down. Ewing was no longer dominant, and the team was running out of gas. The Pacers, still led by Miller but now featuring a strong supporting cast including Jalen Rose, Austin Croshere, and Travis Best, were poised for their breakthrough.

This time, Indiana would not be denied. The Pacers closed out the Knicks in six games, winning Game 6 on New York’s home floor. Miller, poetic in his final Garden appearance, received a surprising ovation from some Knicks fans who respected his greatness even as they despised him.

The Pacers advanced to their first—and only—NBA Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. For New York, it marked the end of an era.

Key Figures and Moments

  • Reggie Miller: The heart and soul of the Pacers, Miller’s clutch performances and theatrical flair made him the rivalry’s most iconic figure. His back-and-forth with Spike Lee remains legendary.
  • Patrick Ewing: The face of the Knicks throughout the 1990s, Ewing was often outdueled in late-game moments but remained a powerful interior presence and a symbol of New York’s grit.
  • Spike Lee: Though not a player, Spike’s courtside antics added fuel to the rivalry. His infamous back-and-forth with Miller during the 1994 series turned the drama into a spectacle.
  • The Garden: Madison Square Garden served as a gladiatorial arena where most of the rivalry’s best moments took place. The crowd was loud, hostile, and unrelenting—especially when Miller came to town.

A Clash of Styles

Beyond the players and the games, what made the Knicks–Pacers rivalry so compelling was the contrast in styles. The Knicks embodied brute force, led by Riley’s and later Jeff Van Gundy’s defensive philosophy. They relied on toughness, rebounding, and physicality.

The Pacers, though physical in their own right, were more finesse-driven. They moved the ball, spread the floor, and relied on Miller’s shooting. Their battles felt like heavyweight fights that often came down to a final jab or knockout punch.

Legacy

From 1993 to 2000, the Knicks and Pacers faced off in six playoff series. The Knicks won four; the Pacers won two—but both of those ended New York’s season. Across 33 games, the margin between the two teams was razor-thin. Their rivalry was not just about winning—it was about pride, identity, and survival in a brutal Eastern Conference.

Today, the rivalry is remembered with nostalgia by fans of both franchises. It represents a bygone era of physical, emotional, and deeply personal basketball—before super teams, before social media, and before load management. It was raw, real, and unforgettable.

The two teams met in the playoffs in 2013 with the Pacers winning in six games. They did not meet again until the 2024 Eastern Conference semifinals with the Pacers again winning the series.

This season the difference between the two squads was minimal with the Knicks finishing third in the Eastern Conference with a 51-31 record and the Pacers just a game behind at 50-32. Now that they both have cleared the field to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, many are hoping for a legendary series that takes the rivalry back to the glory days of the 1990s.

Though Reggie Miller, Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, Latrell Sprewell and John Starks will not be on the court, you can bet there will be jerseys and television clips of them and all the other legends from the 1990s on display throughout the series.

It will be hard for the 2020s version of this rivalry to match the fire of the 1990s, but it is certainly great for the NBA to have these legendary foes back facing each other for a chance to play in the NBA Finals.

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