The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks will meet in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks beat the Boston Celtics in six games in the semifinals, while the Pacers knocked off top seed Cleveland Cavaliers in five games.
The Pacers and Knicks have met eight times in the playoffs, including several spirited playoff series in the 1990s with Pacers all-time leading scorer Reggie Miller at the center of many of the best moments from those contentious battles.
They also met last season when the Pacers eliminated a banged up Knicks team in seven games. The Pacers advanced with a record-breaking shooting performance at Madison Square Garden, making 67.1% of their field goals in a 130-109 win.
Indiana has won five of the eight series against New York, including the past three. This year’s Eastern Conference Finals start Wednesday in New York.
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, though none of the Pacers’ players at the time were homegrown: Reggie Miller was born in the Los Angeles area; Vern Fleming in New York; Rik Smits in the Netherlands. However, the teams’ fanbases 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 vs Knicks NBA playoffs moments
May 4, 1993: John Starks head-butts Reggie Miller
After losing the first two games of the best-of-5 series, the Pacers control 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, Starks loses his cool and headbutts Miller. Starks 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.”
June 1, 1994: Reggie Miller scores 25 points in 4th 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.”
[embedded content]
The Pacers trail 105-99 with 18.7 seconds remaining as they inbound the ball at halfcourt. Then …
∎ Mark Jackson finds Miller at 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 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.”
May 21, 1995: ‘Ding, dong, the witch is dead!’
[embedded content]
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 the 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 blocks 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.
2024: Pacers scorch Knicks in Game 7 at MSG
Admittedly facing a banged-up Knicks team, the Pacers took no prisoners in Game 7 at The Garden. Indiana shot too well to be defeated, making 67.1% of their field goals to narrowly eclipse the previous NBA playoff record of 67.0% set by the Celtics in 1990. The Pacers’ .763 field goal percentage in the first half was also the best clip for a playoff half in the past 25 years.
“We have a historic offense obviously, but this guy (Tyrese Haliburton) got things rolling and everybody just followed suit,” Myles Turner said. “To do that on the road when you’re in the Garden in a Game 7 obviously is phenomenal. This is what we’ve been doing all season long and it showed on a big stage.”
Haliburton set the tone, scoring 14 first-quarter points on 5-of-7 shooting including 4-of-5 from 3-point range.
“There were shades of Reggie Miller running around in that first quarter,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.
Pacers vs. Knicks NBA playoffs history
1993 Eastern Conference first round: Knicks win 3-1 (best-of-5)
1994 Eastern Conference finals: Knicks win 4-3
1995 Eastern Conference semifinals: Pacers win 4-3
1998 Eastern Conference semifinals: Pacers win 4-1
1999 Eastern Conference finals: Knicks win 4-2
2000 Eastern Conference finals: Pacers win 4-2
2013 Eastern Conference semifinals: Pacers win 4-2
2024 Eastern Conference semifinals: Pacers win 4-3
Pacers vs Knicks: Eastern Conference Finals schedule, game times, TV channel
All times Eastern; *-if necessary
Game 1, Wed., May 21: at Knicks, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 2, Fri., May 23: at Knicks, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3, Sun., May 25: at Pacers, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 4, Tues., May 27: at Pacers, 8 p.m., TNT
*-Game 5, Thurs., May 29: at Knicks, 8 p.m., TNT
*-Game 6, Sat., May 31: at Pacers, 8 p.m., TNT
*-Game 7, Mon., June 2: at Knicks, 8 p.m., TNT
How many times have Pacers played Knicks in NBA playoffs?
This will be ninth series between Indiana and New York.
How many times have the Pacers beat Knicks in NBA playoffs?
The Pacers are 5-3 in the previous eight series against the Knicks, and have won the past three, including last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals.
Have Indiana Pacers ever been to the NBA Finals?
Yes, the Pacers played in the 2000 NBA Finals against the L.A. Lakers. Indiana beat the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals that season.
Get IndyStar’s Pacers coverage sent directly to your inbox with the Pacers Update newsletter.
